Published: January 27, 2010 09:39 am      

Water’s quality remains an issue

Although the city of Tuttle recently completed its state-of-the-art ionic exchange water treatment plant, some still have issues with the water.

Some are even asking if the new water treatment plant is adding more minerals to the water, causing a white, powdery substance to show up on dishes and eating utensils.

“There are a lot of misconceptions about what we do to the water,” Tuttle Water Superintendent Steve McVicker said. “Wells are our only source of water. They are the same as household water wells, just a little bit bigger. Water from the ground has minerals in it - the same minerals as there were six months ago, six years ago and 50 years ago. It is exactly the same except with a reduction in the amount of nitrates.”

There are currently nine water wells online with more to be added soon.

McVicker said when water is pulled from the ground, it contains nitrates.

The EPA mandates there cannot be more than 10 mg. of nitrates per liter of water. Because the water in the Tuttle area naturally contains more nitrates than the allowed level, it poses health risks to the babies of pregnant women and children under age 6 months.

“That’s the purpose of building the plant,” McVicker said. “It’s a nitrate removal plant, that’s all it is. The only thing we do is take the nitrates out. We use a filtration process to filter the nitrates out and nitrates are the only thing we take out.”

With the exception of sand and sediment which are also filtered out.

McVicker also said the EPA mandates the addition of minute amounts of chlorine be added to the water to eliminate any possible pathogens in the water that could cause illness.

“We have to have a minimum of 1 mg. of chlorine per liter of water that leaves the plant,” McVicker said. “We aim for 115 percent of the minimum requirement, adding the minimum plus 15 percent. That’s our buffer zone. If we added only the minimum, we would run the risk of falling below the minimum levels.”

Another substance naturally found in the water is calcium carbonate - which is responsible for the powdery substance on dishes and utensils.

“It’s hard water, it’s got calcium carbonate in it,” McVicker said. “Our water is not that hard. On a scale of hardness, it’s just barely hard. It’s very easy to remove the hardness with a water-softener system. Our water is 100 percent safe for everyone to use.”

McVicker said hard water is not a regulated contaminant and that it is not in any way considered a health risk. He also said a water softener system for the city would cost about 100 times more than the existing water treatment plant cost.

“People need to understand, there are three factors we can manipulate - the amount of nitrates, the amount of chlorine and the amount of pressure in the system,” McVicker said. “Our start up has had its bumps, but I am very happy with the plant. It was a big investment for the city and the city is going to get its money out of this plant; it is going to last a long, long time.”

Proud of his spotlessly-clean plant, McVicker said, “We work very hard to make this system be as good as it can be, and I want everyone in town to know that I’m here for them.”