Remerton water issues aired

Published 11:17 pm Monday, May 12, 2008

REMERTON – A number of citizens voiced their concerns to the Remerton City Council Monday about the quality of the city’s water and the lengthy process the City has taken toward improvements.

Returning to the regular May city council meeting this week, following discussions brought up during last Monday’s work session, several residents and business owners spoke about the city’s water issues, which, for some, have been an issue for many years.

“I realize that improving the water takes time, but many of us here have been waiting 10, 12 years or more,”said. S.W. “Frenchie” Depasture.

For most of those attending, the improvements hoped for would bring better smelling and tasting water as well as water that appears cleaner.

According to information shared during various meetings by City Manager Brian McDougal and Utilities Director Ron Woods, the city’s water contains sulfur deposits – a natural occurrence in water drawn from the ground, and although it is not harmful to consumers, it can produce an unpleasant smell and taste. Also, residents have also had some issues with the appearance of the water at times, as it picks up sediments within water lines when not flushed through periodically, especially in the looped areas of water lines found in some areas.

Work to correct the issues began with the former council, which voted to hire two outside engineering firms to collect and analyze water/system data and to provide the city with recommendations based on those findings. Project analysis began in January and is in the final phases,but many citizens have grown weary while waiting to see results.

“Clean drinking water is not a luxury, it’s a necessity,” said Depasture, who in the past few weeks has been working to find some answers of his own. “I’ve found that like the county, Remerton could purchase water in bulk from the city, and once a strong flushing is done, an improvement would be seen almost immediately. We could save money as well because we wouldn’t have to inject the water with chemicals.”

Also attending Monday’s meeting were John Whitehead, deputy city manager of the City of Valdosta Public Utilities Department, who spoke to Remerton’s citizens and City Council about the feasibility of using water from Valdosta.

“I haven’t seen the report, but I understand that the City of Valdosta is an option,” Whitehead said. We are here to provide whatever services we can and would work with the city manager on whatever rates may be appropriate for the citizens of Remerton.”

Valdosta Mayor John Fretti also attended and shared a willingness on behalf of the City of Valdosta to partner with the City of Remerton if need be. While many of the citizens present seemed to be in favor of such a partnership, Remerton Mayor Cornelius Holsendolph asked that the residents give the council an opportunity to hear the complete recommendations of the CDM engineering firm.

“The council and city’s goal is to improve our water,” said Holsendolph. “I think it’s important that we finish this study so that we can go forward on the alternative we can take, and see how long it will be before we can see the improvements.”

Speaking on behalf of CDM, Engineer Donald Maurer gave a tentative timeline of the firm’s portion of the project, which he anticipates will be complete in the next few weeks.

“What we are addressing are the options that are available, the pros and cons of each, and the cost, but the final decision has to be made by the city,” Maurer said. “The city asked us to look comprehensively at the water quality, and that’s why it is taking time. I’m confident that you won’t need to confer with an additional firm once our recommendations are made. We could conceivably be done by the end of May”

Once the CDM firm has completed its report, engineers will sit down with the city’s elected officials and city staff, “in a workshop setting,” said Maurer.