Water Department Updates - OCT 28, 2024 - County Briefing

Water Department Reservoir Treatment Update: A Summary for County Residents

On October 28, 2024, the County Briefing featured an update from the Water Resources Department regarding ongoing efforts to improve water quality in our county’s reservoir. The focus of the meeting was a detailed plan for a second round of treatment aimed at reducing high turbidity – essentially, cloudiness – in the reservoir’s water. This update is important because it directly impacts our community's access to clean, safe drinking water.

The primary discussion centered around the current turbidity levels in the reservoir, which currently stand at 23.3 NTUs (Nephelometric Turbidity Units). The Water Resources Department is working to bring this number down to between 1.5 and 2 NTUs, a level that will allow the county to resume normal water treatment and filtration processes. To achieve this goal, a targeted treatment plan is being implemented across different zones within and around the reservoir intake. These zones include an "Inner Zone" (approximately four acres) requiring a significant application of aluminum sulfate and caustic soda, and four "Outer Zones" (approximately 14.25 acres) requiring smaller amounts of the same chemicals. State Utility Contractors, based in Monroe, are currently installing turbidity curtains to contain the treatment areas, while Estate Management Services from Brunswick, Georgia will manage the chemical dosing process.

While no formal decisions or votes were taken during this briefing, a significant point of discussion was the progress made so far. The department reported that turbidity levels have already decreased from over 26 NTUs in the past week, indicating a positive initial response to the treatment efforts. Officials acknowledged the importance of this week's work, stating they were "targeting between 1.5 and 2 NTUs" to resume normal operations, and expressed appreciation for public support.

There was no direct community input or public comment during the meeting, which primarily served as an informational update from Water Resources staff. However, residents can expect to receive regular updates on the treatment’s progress and turbidity levels as they become available.

Looking ahead, several key action items are underway: State Utility Contractors continue installing the turbidity curtains. Following curtain installation, dosing of the outer zones is planned for later this week (potentially Tuesday or Wednesday), followed by dosing within the inner zone. Residents should stay tuned for further updates from the Water Resources Department as this important treatment process continues, ultimately working towards restoring normal water treatment and filtration for our community.