What is happening in the Water Plant?
Jun 2, 2023As most of you are aware there have been some odors and coloration issues in the water. Hearing this information from those using the water, the Board took immediate action to purge the lines and clean the huge storage tank, and then took multiple samples of the water. The District’s operator determined the source was well number no. 1 (located near the entrance to Wal-Mart). This water comes from the Jasper aquifer and travels roughly 2000 – 3000 feet below the ground level to reach the surface. Water pumped from well no. 2 (located near Nichols Lane) is pumped from the Evangeline aquifer and travels roughly 1500 – 2000 feet below the ground level to reach the surface. As of now, the water pumped from the Evangeline aquifer has not experienced the odor or color issues found in well no. 1.
The Board had the water tested for constituents, as recommended by water consultants and NO NEGATIVE RESULTS were received.
That being said, the water still didn’t taste or look good. The Board went even further and removed all the water well components down to the pumps themselves. This is no easy task as the pumps are 440 feet below the ground level. Removal is performed by taking apart 20-foot sections at a time with a crane to lift the casing and pumps out of the well. This procedure took two full days to remove the pump and will take the same amount of time to put them back in place.
What did we find? NOTHING again. While the pump had some parts that were worn and could use repair, the water consultants found nothing that was created by the Districts equipment or operations that could have created the odors and colors found in the water.
The amount of water being pumped while the pump is running (1000 gallons/per minute) would fill the average backyard pool in about 15 minutes. With that amount of volume, it would be very difficult to add something in operations in a volume that could be detectable with the highest efforts of laboratory testing.
This leaves us with one reality. “Mother Nature” has cycles that bring in some kind of chemistry that is natural and traveling through the aquifers. How it gets there and what creates it is still not known. It will be stronger at times, and we must remain diligent in trying to identify when the occurrences happen so that the District can track the cycles. It also means that the Board needs you, the District residents, to notify us when discolored or poor tasting water is being received at your house so that the District can flush the lines and restore clear water flow to the District’s distribution system.
In the meantime, make sure that you use drinking water filters or bottled water for your families and employees if the offensive odors return. The District is planning in the future to add a new aeration system to oxidize the water. An aeration system will potentially make any pollutants settle out of the reservoir before being pumped to the neighborhood.
If you experience odors or discoloration to the water you receive, please call the District’s operator, TNG Utility Services, at 281-350-0895.
Thank you,
The Board of Directors of EMC MUD No. 3
Phil Maybee, President
Darell Bridges, Vice President
Jim Deaton, Secretary
Ken Parmer, Asst. Secretary
Brenda Crayton, Director