Village struggles with brown water
By Birgit Bogler WARWICK Village of Warwick residents are complaining about discolored water and Mayor Michael Newhard is apologizing for the inconvenience and expediting a solution.
Starting next week, the water department, plant operator and department of public works will begin supervised use of a chemical as part of a sequestering plan.
The water color has been bad for approximately two months and complaints have poured into Village Hall where staff register them in a log book.
Resident Ellen Card of Southern Lane brought a jar of tap water with her to the July 2 regular meeting of the board. Card told the mayor and board that the water is so bad that she bathes her kids in Monroe where she grew up.
The mayor acknowledged that some neighborhoods along Southern Lane and Oakland Avenue had extreme conditions and asked that residents call 986-2031 to report brown water.
Village water lost its transparency primarily because of turbidity in the lines some of which may now be exposed iron pipe. Bringing on the micro-filtration plant and two large water main breaks worsened the color while flushing the lines repeatedly was not working.
Newhard announced on July 16 at Village Hall that he authorized use of ortho phosphate, a sequestering agent that bonds to exposed iron in pipes and creates a protective coat. The chemical also reduces hardness of water.
The decision was made in consultation with Ralph Van Duzer from village engineer Barton & Logiudice and is subject to oversight by the states board of health.
Resident wanting to learn more about ortho phosphate should read the July 13 notice at Village Hall, online or on page 5 of this week's newspaper.
And heres a laundry tip from trustee Barry Cheney: Do not use bleach to get iron stains out of whites. Bleach only makes iron stains worse; use Iron Out instead.