| By Bob Weaver
The Mt. Zion Public Service District will be issued a violation for poor record
keeping, according to C. David Cobb, District Engineer of the Environmental
Engineering Division of the Bureau of Public Health.
During a recent survey of the office records from 1999 to present, Cobb said
nearly all the records were missing through 2001. "Many that required chlorine
residual readings" were missing.
PSD secretary Wilma Mace said some of the previous operators failed to keep
accurate records and "did not have a good filing system."
"If we had not submitted the required paper work at the time, we would have
been issued citations at that time," she said.
Some records are required to be kept for several years.
The survey said "All records should be retained at the PSD warehouse (Mt.
Zion) located adjacent to the No. 2 Booster Station."
Cobb said the PSD records were not kept "on or near the premises of the
public water system." Mace said the sub-station has not always been a
suitable place for records, but she will work toward compliance.
Cobb said operational and monitoring records such as bacteriological analysis,
chemical analysis, lead and copper documentation and numerous other
records are required to be maintained for a period of time.
There are no current problems with water quality, according to recent
testing.
Other significant deficiencies indicate a major problem keeping a full-time
certified water system operator. "The system needs one Class One Chief
Operator and one Class One-D Operator to assist with day-to-day operations,"
said the official.
Cobb said "The biggest issue may well be keeping a full-time operator
employed.
Currently, Grantsville's water operator Dave Johnson is maintaining the
system.
Sharon Postalwait, chairwoman of the PSD, has been advised by letter to
respond to the major issues within 45 days. Postalwait said she had not
received the notification.
The Mt. Zion PSD has requested a rate increase with the Public Service
Commission, said Amy Swann, Director of the Water and Wastewater
Division.
The district has experienced significant problems with water loss.
The recent survey said the system is losing 38% of its purchased water from
the Town of Grantsville. The Public Service Commission allows a 15% loss.
The PSD is paying the Town of Grantsville about $50,000 in one year for water
that is being lost, according to the survey.
Mace said the water loss in the survey covered the year ending in June, 2003.
"We had some major breaks that year," she said. Cobb said the system is likely
operating on very old, outdated meters.
"The problems are being solved and things have improved," said Mace. "We're
trying to make every correction."
Several other problems were noted in the survey, including "No records of
(PSD) cleaning any of its tanks. If this is correct, the Gunn tank has not been
cleaned in 38 years, the Barr Hill tank has not been cleaned in 26 years and
the Arnoldsburg tank has not been cleaned for 21 years."
Mace said most of the problems cited are related to the unavailability of old
records.
Public Service Commission administrator Swann expressed concern for the
future of Calhoun's PSDs - the Mt. Zion and Pleasant Hill PSDs. "There
are not enough customers in each district to fund the system," according to
their annual audits.
She said it is not a problem unique to Calhoun County.
She said the Public Service Commission recommended 15 years ago the
districts be combined, but the recommendation was rejected.
Mace said a study made a few years ago indicated it would not have benefited
Mt. Zion PSD to join with Pleasant Hill PSD.
The Pleasant Hill PSD recently asked the Public Service Commission to
approve a line of credit to continue operations. Swann said their request is
being denied.
The Pleasant Hill PSD has contracted for the Yellow Creek-Back Fork water
project, which is currently under construction.
While the Calhoun County Commission appoints members to the PSD boards,
the PSDs operate independently, with audit oversight being provided by the
Public Service Commission.
Calhoun Commission President Larry McCallister said "The commission is
always concerned about providing public water to the county, and will do
whatever it takes to help maintain services."
"I know it is getting more difficult to operate and manage them," he said. "We
have always appreciated the people who have come forward to help."
The Mt. Zion PSD has embarked on a new project to bring water to southern
Calhoun. The extension would provide service to areas of Millstone, Sand
Ridge and Route 16 south to the Clay County line.
During a recent public hearing regarding the proposed project, no residents
from southern Lee or Washington district attended.
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