July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Time to scrap system (07/26/05)
By By ROBERT BANSER-
DUNKIRK — It may be time to go back to the drawing board to solve rusty water problems here — a proposal that could cost the city about $600,000.
At least that’s what city council members are considering in response to Mayor Sam Hubbard’s suggestion Monday night to abandon the city’s ozone treatment facilities in favor of returning to a more conventional water treatment system.
Hubbard said the changeover could cost the city about $600,000. The city’s ozone treatment plant is only about four years old, but council members have been flooded with water quality complaints ever since it went into operation. A planned public open house for the facility was never held due to the numerous problems and complaints from residents.
The mayor said that two different firms recently submitted reports in connection with making improvements at the plant. Cleanwater Ozone, a Fort Wayne company which has done work for the city before, submitted a proposal for improvements which would total about $36,600 to upgrade the current system.
Commonwealth Engineers Inc. of Indianapolis came up with a much more detailed report, evaluating the current Dunkirk system and recommending a return to a more conventional water treatment procedure. The Commonwealth report numbers more than 20 pages and concludes that an ozone process is more effective in the treatment of water from a surface source such as a lake or river, rather than a well system with a high iron content like Dunkirk’s.
In its summary the Commonwealth report states, “We further believe the use of ozone in this particular treatment application is not cost-effective.”
Responding to the engineering report and Hubbard’s comments, city council members voted unanimously to approve a motion to have Commonwealth send representatives to a future council meeting to discuss the proposal further.
Meanwhile, council members dismissed the Cleanwater Ozone recommendations, saying they would not represent a total solution to the current problems.
“As you all know we have spent a lot of time, money and effort in trying to produce good, clear water for the city of Dunkirk, and just in the last couple weeks city officials have received about a dozen calls about rusty water,” Hubbard said.
The mayor said that he had received a lot of positive recommendations about the Commonwealth firm and its work in other communities.
“I didn’t like the ozone plant idea from day one,” current city councilman and former mayor Tom Johnson said.
Hubbard continued, “The current plant dates back to 2001, and we have poured money into it every year since that time, and here’s another example (the Cleanwater Ozone report) to spend another $36,600. It’s not a conventional water treatment system. Commonwealth is basically saying to eliminate the ozone and go to a conventional system.”
Councilman Craig Faulkner asked, “Do we have any guarantees with the old system?” Hubbard and city attorney William Hinkle said that would be reviewed, but neither seemed optimistic. Hubbard said there probably were no guarantees or warranties at the present time.
Hubbard, “I think basically we bought a system that was not conventional but unique. It may work with surface water from a lake or river, but not with ground water with a high iron content.”
City water department superintendent Dace Mumbower said that he thought the Commonwealth plan “would be a change for the better.” He explained that the ozone system has had a lot of problems, primarily relating to filtration.
With the ozone system, the city is back-washing approximately 11 million gallons of water a year through the filters, Hubbard said. That’s a lot of water to be “wasting” and just sending into the sewer treatment plant, Hubbard said. “Five or 10 years down the pike this could result in needing to dig some more wells ... We’re just wasting a lot of water,” he added.
“We need to do something,” Faulkner said.
“We can’t sit here and dance around this ... We’ve got to do something,” Councilman Jim Doughty added.
Faulkner then made the motion to discuss the situation further with Commonwealth Engineers.
In other business at Monday night’s meeting, council members:
•Tabled for further study three bids for a backhoe for the sewer department. The bids ranged in price from $63,750 to $74,800 with the low bid submitted by MacAllister Machinery Company Inc., of Indianapolis. Currently, the city water department has a backhoe and the sewer department is renting one for $1,890 a month.
•Listened to Jeff McDaniel, representing Ludwig’s Grocery Store, request to meet with the city council in executive session to talk about the business. Hubbard and Hinkle pointed out that this would not be legally possible, according to state statutes.
The mayor said that city clerk-treasurer Jane Kesler had already contacted the Indiana State Board of Accounts and was told that the city might be able to help the store with remodeling or improvement projects, but city funds could not be used for “inventory expenses.”
Hubbard said, “That came from the Board of Accounts. I’m sorry.”
•Noted that the Jay County Habitat for Humanity house currently under construction in Dunkirk is nearly complete and an open house ceremony and tours are planned for Sunday, July 31, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the house, 243 E. Commerce St.
•Observed a moment of silence for former Portland city clerk-treasurer Barbara Blackford who died unexpectedly last week.[[In-content Ad]]
At least that’s what city council members are considering in response to Mayor Sam Hubbard’s suggestion Monday night to abandon the city’s ozone treatment facilities in favor of returning to a more conventional water treatment system.
Hubbard said the changeover could cost the city about $600,000. The city’s ozone treatment plant is only about four years old, but council members have been flooded with water quality complaints ever since it went into operation. A planned public open house for the facility was never held due to the numerous problems and complaints from residents.
The mayor said that two different firms recently submitted reports in connection with making improvements at the plant. Cleanwater Ozone, a Fort Wayne company which has done work for the city before, submitted a proposal for improvements which would total about $36,600 to upgrade the current system.
Commonwealth Engineers Inc. of Indianapolis came up with a much more detailed report, evaluating the current Dunkirk system and recommending a return to a more conventional water treatment procedure. The Commonwealth report numbers more than 20 pages and concludes that an ozone process is more effective in the treatment of water from a surface source such as a lake or river, rather than a well system with a high iron content like Dunkirk’s.
In its summary the Commonwealth report states, “We further believe the use of ozone in this particular treatment application is not cost-effective.”
Responding to the engineering report and Hubbard’s comments, city council members voted unanimously to approve a motion to have Commonwealth send representatives to a future council meeting to discuss the proposal further.
Meanwhile, council members dismissed the Cleanwater Ozone recommendations, saying they would not represent a total solution to the current problems.
“As you all know we have spent a lot of time, money and effort in trying to produce good, clear water for the city of Dunkirk, and just in the last couple weeks city officials have received about a dozen calls about rusty water,” Hubbard said.
The mayor said that he had received a lot of positive recommendations about the Commonwealth firm and its work in other communities.
“I didn’t like the ozone plant idea from day one,” current city councilman and former mayor Tom Johnson said.
Hubbard continued, “The current plant dates back to 2001, and we have poured money into it every year since that time, and here’s another example (the Cleanwater Ozone report) to spend another $36,600. It’s not a conventional water treatment system. Commonwealth is basically saying to eliminate the ozone and go to a conventional system.”
Councilman Craig Faulkner asked, “Do we have any guarantees with the old system?” Hubbard and city attorney William Hinkle said that would be reviewed, but neither seemed optimistic. Hubbard said there probably were no guarantees or warranties at the present time.
Hubbard, “I think basically we bought a system that was not conventional but unique. It may work with surface water from a lake or river, but not with ground water with a high iron content.”
City water department superintendent Dace Mumbower said that he thought the Commonwealth plan “would be a change for the better.” He explained that the ozone system has had a lot of problems, primarily relating to filtration.
With the ozone system, the city is back-washing approximately 11 million gallons of water a year through the filters, Hubbard said. That’s a lot of water to be “wasting” and just sending into the sewer treatment plant, Hubbard said. “Five or 10 years down the pike this could result in needing to dig some more wells ... We’re just wasting a lot of water,” he added.
“We need to do something,” Faulkner said.
“We can’t sit here and dance around this ... We’ve got to do something,” Councilman Jim Doughty added.
Faulkner then made the motion to discuss the situation further with Commonwealth Engineers.
In other business at Monday night’s meeting, council members:
•Tabled for further study three bids for a backhoe for the sewer department. The bids ranged in price from $63,750 to $74,800 with the low bid submitted by MacAllister Machinery Company Inc., of Indianapolis. Currently, the city water department has a backhoe and the sewer department is renting one for $1,890 a month.
•Listened to Jeff McDaniel, representing Ludwig’s Grocery Store, request to meet with the city council in executive session to talk about the business. Hubbard and Hinkle pointed out that this would not be legally possible, according to state statutes.
The mayor said that city clerk-treasurer Jane Kesler had already contacted the Indiana State Board of Accounts and was told that the city might be able to help the store with remodeling or improvement projects, but city funds could not be used for “inventory expenses.”
Hubbard said, “That came from the Board of Accounts. I’m sorry.”
•Noted that the Jay County Habitat for Humanity house currently under construction in Dunkirk is nearly complete and an open house ceremony and tours are planned for Sunday, July 31, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the house, 243 E. Commerce St.
•Observed a moment of silence for former Portland city clerk-treasurer Barbara Blackford who died unexpectedly last week.[[In-content Ad]]
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