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Pagnozzi Charities
A record 310 people attended the fifth annual Grand Slam Celebration for Pagnozzi Charities in Fayetteville the night of May 16.
Drew Eldridge got home from work Friday and turned on the water to see cola-colored liquid splash into his sink.
Eldridge and his neighbors in the Signal Mountain subdivision of Boston Branch said they were told Friday evening to flush their lines after murky, sediment-filled water flowed through their pipes late last week and into the weekend.
The Waldens Ridge Utility District sent phone alerts to customers saying the district’s annual flushing disturbed sediment in the water because of a main valve that was two-thirds closed. The district asked customers to turn on outside taps to flush the lines and promising to bear the cost of 1,000 gallons of water per home.
“We are sincerely sorry for your inconvenience and would like to thank you for your help,” the utility district said in the phone alert.
But some neighbors on Saturday worried about their water’s safety were frustrated that WRUD wasn’t passing out info beyond Friday’s alert. Some also were worried about a reported chemical in the water. The public was not given any information about what was in the water or whether it was safe to drink, shower with or use to cook. As of Saturday, residents were left to assume the water was still safe.
Utility district general manager Ron West and utility district commissioners did not return multiple messages from the Times Free Press on Friday or Saturday.
Murky water spews from a fire hydrant in the Boston Branch neighborhood.“There’s still not been any information to go out. I’m frustrated because when I called in, [West] said, ‘No, it’s safe, you can drink it.’ And here we are 48 hours later and I still have [dirty water],” Eldridge said.
According to Eldridge, West said his own water had turned brown Thursday night. Eldridge said he was frustrated because if the district had taken action Thursday night when the problem was found, much of the issue could have been avoided by shutting down water to the community while the system was flushed.
“So Thursday night, he flushed his water, his personal water at home and said it was fine,” Eldridge said.
Eldridge asked West if the water had made him sick, and West told him it had not, Eldridge said. Eldridge said he left work early Friday because he felt sick, but he didn’t know whether the water had anything to do with it.
Local resident Ashley McOnnell-Stephens said she also called the utility district Friday and talked with West. She said she said grew frustrated with him after she asked questions.
She said he eventually told her zinc orthophosphate, a chemical added to water systems to help with corrosion control, had gotten in the water. Eldridge said he was told the same thing.
West also told her the pipes had not been flushed since they were installed in 2009, she said, which contradicts the utility’s message to customers Friday night.
Cliff Kent, vice president of the homeowners association, also said the pipes had not been flushed since they were installed.
“I don’t think there’s been adequate communication,” Kent said. “It’d be nice to know exactly what chemical they’re putting in the lines to help maintain them internally.”
According to ActionPA, an environmental research center based in Pennsylvania, zinc orthophosphate is a clear liquid that is slightly toxic and may cause irritation on skin contact or if swallowed. The center suggests flushing the area with large amounts of water if the chemical is released or spilled.
Kent said his house seemed to be the only one in the neighborhood with clear water but that several neighbors had talked to him about the issue.
Hydrants throughout the neighborhood were flushed Saturday and much of the sediment had cleared out of the system by late Saturday afternoon.
Contact staff writer Mark Pace at mpace@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659. Follow him on Twitter @themarkpace and on Facebook at ChattanoogaOutdoors TFP.