(July 20, 2017) In an effort to remedy water quality issues that have plagued Pocomoke for decades, the City Council approved borrowing $259,000 for repairs at the water treatment plant during its meeting on Monday.
City Clerk Carol Sullivan said the city received bids from two local contractors to replace filtering media, butterfly valves and water meters, with Somerset Well Drilling, in Westover, selected for the project.
In May, former City Manager Ernie Crofoot said Pocomoke commissioned a report by water treatment contractor Hungerford & Terry, who identified problems with the filtering media and water flow control valves at the treatment plant.
“Over the years the backwashing apparently has been at an inappropriate pressure, which has caused a significant amount of the filtering material to go down the drain,” Crofoot said during a budget work session on May 12. “There were also valves … not opening and closing at the right time.”
Crofoot went on to explain when backwash pressure levels are set appropriately garbage is removed while the media is flushed and water is filtered.
“If the pressure’s too high that media goes out with the stuff that’s washed out of the filters,” he said.
According to Crofoot, as the water flows to areas of low usage it settles longer and higher iron levels become problematic.
“Our problem is iron we’re sending into the water is sitting and it’s reacting to the chlorine because it’s sitting there a long time,” he said. “They view it as a major contributor to our red water problem.”
Included in the scope of the project, Somerset Drilling will remove and replace filtering media in all four tanks at the water treatment plant. New support beds of gravel, greensand and anthracite will be installed in said tanks. Also, a total of 17 butterfly valves will be replaced.
Mayor Bruce Morrison expressed optimism the repairs would eliminate the red-tinged water plaguing numerous homes, most notably in the Pocomoke Heights neighborhood.
“I think it’s going to fix the water issues in the heights,” he said.
Finance Director Janet Wilson said the city negotiated a 15-year loan for $259,000 from Taylor Bank. She also noted if Pocomoke makes a $19,500 yearly payment, in addition to monthly charges, the loan could be paid off in approximately seven years.
City Clerk Carol Sullivan said the city received bids from two local contractors to replace filtering media, butterfly valves and water meters, with Somerset Well Drilling, in Westover, selected for the project.
In May, former City Manager Ernie Crofoot said Pocomoke commissioned a report by water treatment contractor Hungerford & Terry, who identified problems with the filtering media and water flow control valves at the treatment plant.
“Over the years the backwashing apparently has been at an inappropriate pressure, which has caused a significant amount of the filtering material to go down the drain,” Crofoot said during a budget work session on May 12. “There were also valves … not opening and closing at the right time.”
Crofoot went on to explain when backwash pressure levels are set appropriately garbage is removed while the media is flushed and water is filtered.
“If the pressure’s too high that media goes out with the stuff that’s washed out of the filters,” he said.
According to Crofoot, as the water flows to areas of low usage it settles longer and higher iron levels become problematic.
“Our problem is iron we’re sending into the water is sitting and it’s reacting to the chlorine because it’s sitting there a long time,” he said. “They view it as a major contributor to our red water problem.”
Included in the scope of the project, Somerset Drilling will remove and replace filtering media in all four tanks at the water treatment plant. New support beds of gravel, greensand and anthracite will be installed in said tanks. Also, a total of 17 butterfly valves will be replaced.
Mayor Bruce Morrison expressed optimism the repairs would eliminate the red-tinged water plaguing numerous homes, most notably in the Pocomoke Heights neighborhood.
“I think it’s going to fix the water issues in the heights,” he said.
Finance Director Janet Wilson said the city negotiated a 15-year loan for $259,000 from Taylor Bank. She also noted if Pocomoke makes a $19,500 yearly payment, in addition to monthly charges, the loan could be paid off in approximately seven years.