Council soaked by complaints (08/26/2008)

DUNKIRK - A geyser of complaints about the quality of city drinking water surfaced at Monday night's council meeting.

Residents, primarily from the southeast side neighborhood of Moore Avenue and Broad, Harold and Barbier streets, expressed concerns at the meeting about water conditions and the high number of water main breaks in their neighborhood which have made a bad situation worse.

Several residents suggested that the old water lines in the area be replaced entirely, rather than fixing them with a series of patches and clamps, as leaks occur.

Spokesperson for the approximately 25 neighborhood residents was Sharon Price, 127 Moore Ave. Price said she is a longtime Dunkirk resident who loves the community, but not the water, which takes on an orange hue due to high iron content.

"I don't know what the answer is, but I think it's time to do something," Price said, adding that she had also complained about the quality of city water at a council meeting several years ago, and obviously had not seen any improvement.

Roughly six years ago, Dunkirk replaced its deteriorating water plant with a new ozone treatment facility, but water quality problems have persisted. Dace Mumbower, superintendent of the water treatment plant, said that he doesn't feel the new plant's filtering system can handle the high level of iron in the Dunkirk city water. Also he said that many of the old water mains need to be replaced to improve water quality as well.

Price said her family uses bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes, but keeping clothes and plumbing fixtures clean presents a multitude of problems.

There have been numerous water main breaks in the area in recent months, she said. "These pipes break over and over and over," Price pointed out, as city officials agreed with her.

Also she noted that while these water main breaks were being repaired, residents experienced periods of low water pressure and water that is even more rusty. As proof of her claims, she held up pieces of clothing that had been discolored as well as bottles of rusty water samples, taken on different days.

At one point she asked if the orange-colored water was safe to drink, and Dunkirk water department superintendent Dace Mumbower responded by opening up one of her water bottles and taking a drink. Mumbower said the city drinking water is routinely tested for safety. He noted that the iron content was high, but some people pay extra for iron supplement vitamins.

However, residents continued to raise concerns about the water. One woman said, "I have to beg my kids to take a bath because they don't want to get in the water."

Other complaints ranged from not being able to use ice cube makers on new refrigerators to not being able to keep white clothes looking white, even with numerous laundry additives.

Mumbower and Judy Garr, council member in charge of the water department, told residents that city officials have been talking to Commonwealth Engineering representatives from Indianapolis about the problems with city water. They are trying to put together a grant or loan proposal.

"We just want clean water," Price said in conclusion, thanking city officials for taking the time to listen to her concerns.

In reply Mayor Ron Hunt said, "I know water is a big issue. We are trying our best to clean it up."

Hunt continued that there did seem to be an abnormally high number of leaks in certain water lines such as Moore Avenue, and possibly grant or loan money could be used to replace those lines entirely with new ones.

Hunt and Garr urged the residents to come to more council meetings as well as public hearings where loan and grant options will be discussed.

Garr said that at the Sept. 8 city council meeting, representatives of H.J. Umbaugh and Associates, Indianapolis, were tentatively scheduled to be present to discuss a rate study relating to city plans to apply for loan funds to improve the water situation.

Please come to future public hearings on this topic and voice your concerns, Garr said.

Mumbower said that he was well aware of the problems with the water, noting that he can't even go to a store to buy a gallon of milk without fielding complaints about water quality.

The city is working to improve the situation, Mumbower said.

Garr agreed that the present system was not adequate and grant or loan money was needed to fix the problems.

In other action at Monday night's meeting which was the first one held in the newly refurbished city hall, following several months of repair work, council members:

•Noted that the city clerk-treasurer's office was in the process of moving back into the city hall, 131 S. Main St., building.

•Heard a report from councilman Tom Johnson that the city pool season was now completed. "I thought it was a pretty good year for the pool," he said.

•Learned that a task force had been formed to try to bring a food market or grocery store with a meat counter to the community. Hunt said the task force members included himself and Garr as well as Jay County Chamber executive director Vicky Tague, Dru Hall, Lauren Bradshaw, Lucy Morgan, Julie Eltzroth, Chuck Huffman and Brenda Brumfield. The group is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, in city hall, 131 S. Main St.

•Noted that the council has set a budget workshop meeting for 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, in city hall.[[In-content Ad]]