I read in the newspaper often about the gate problem and rebuilding of them at Savage River Dam, and I understand the problems involved to a certain extent.
The Baltimore District Corps Of Engineers, Water Resources Section, dated January 12,2007, I refer you to page one.
This report deals with the quantity of water that the dam will deliver to the town and makes no mention of the quality of water that will be delivered. Therefore it seems that the town of Westernport must do everything possible to continue the quality of life as far as water is concerned that the citizens have enjoyed.
This is the very reason the filtration plant was built in the first place.
This problem will be far reaching to the homes on the Westernport Water System.
Most of these homes have:
• Humidifiers that have filters
• Ice makers that have filters
• Furnace filters (hot water systems)
• Hot water tanks-dirt is always a problem
• Town water system has to see this problem growing, each night when the demand for water lessens, the dirt settles in the lines and the problem compounds.
• To say when the problem with the dam is repaired that the lines will be flushed, is not an answer as Westernport cannot flush all the dirt that is in our lines now.
To use the excuse that it takes to much clean water to clean the filters at the treatment plant is not a viable excuse either, we should be making a change to help the people.
The Maryland State Health Department states that each household is entitled to 150 gallons of clean safe water each day. I understand that, at this time this is an almost impossibility but we sure should be working towards this target.
This water must be cleaned either at the dam or at the filter house before it reaches our filter plant and our service lines.
If this continues will the town reservoir, the green tank as well as the tank on horse rock have to be taken out of service and sanitized? Since we are asked to boil our water now our entire system from the dam to the Franklin system must be contaminated as well as the in-home filters. This will cost everyone on the system!
Why can't this cleaning be accomplished in a temporary manner at either the dam or the water plant?
To see people from Westernport in markets buying water in the quantities they are is all uncalled for.
These people already pay a sur charge of $17 monthly, plus $20 for their first 4,000 gallons of water, this for water that must be altered as soon as it flows from the tap.
Has the water department looked into grants for help with this type of problem? Asking M.D.E. for the use of a mobile filter system until the problem is solved? Surely other towns have had this problem at some point.
The town presently has the firm of Hazen and Sawyer working under contract at the filter plant, have they been asked for advice on the problem?
Hazen and Sawyer is also working at the Savage River Dam on the gate problem, have they been asked for help?
This cold weather has many people letting their water run at night to prevent their pipes from freezing also compounds the dirt problem.
With low water in the town reservoir, fire protection becomes a problem on the top streets on the hill.
This would be a good time to spend some of the Moran Manor money.
Why cant the town hand out bottled water daily to the citizens?
Tom Smith
Westernport
(Editor’s note: Smith is the former mayor of Westernport)
Westernport, Md. —
