Skip to Main Content
DataViewer - Division of Water Resources (DWR)
Page Help
GUEST
---
Go to Home Page
Home
Permits
Permits on Public Notice
Permits on Public Notice (Map)
Moratoriums
Permit Types
Permitting Actions
Permit Appeals
Documents
Complaints
Inspections
Engineering Plans
Sewage Works
Public Water Systems
Hydrologic Determinations
Exceptional Waters
Ambient Monitoring
Ambient Monitoring Stations
Surface Waters Chemical Data
Tissue Monitoring Data
Habitat Assessments
SQSH Data
QLP Data
Oil & Gas Wells
Water Wells
Licensed Drillers
Driller Report
Notices of Intent
Certified Operators
Septic Systems
Active Pumpers and Installers
Home
DWR Complaints
Complaint Details
Complaint
Complaint Number
34562
DWR Program Area
WPC
Date Received
11/17/2014
How Received
Phone
Concerning
Discoloration/Appearance/Particulates
Concerning (Other)
Assigned on
Record Last Updated
18-JUL-2019 08:37AM
Location based on SITE_ID
Site ID
99368
Site
Wartrace Water System
Location
29 Main Street
City
Watrtace
Description
-
County
Bedford
EFO Name
Columbia
Site Owner
-
Investigation Results
Status
Issue Resolved
Date Investigated
11/18/2014
Responsible Party
Completed on
11/20/2014
Referred To
Referred on
Photos
Complaint Description and Writeup
Complaint Description and Writeup
On November 17, 2014, I received a telephone call from Rocky Cowger, a customer of the Wartrace Water System. Mr. Cowger stated that the water at his residence was an orange/yellow color with sediment that would settle out. He stated this had been going on for about two months now. He stated that he had called city hall to make a complaint but no one had responded to his knowledge.
I made a site investigation the next day, 11/18/14, at his residence, 109 Sims Ave, Wartrace. Upon arrival, Mr. and Mrs. Cowger showed me a mason jar filled with a fine orange sediment at the bottom. When the jar was shook up, the particles would suspend in a floc like fashion.
The kitchen faucet was turned on and the water allowed to run the entire time that I as the residence, about 25 minutes. After the service line had cleared, about 2 minutes, discolored water appeared. See photo left. Several free chlorine samples were taken. None measured over 0.03 mg/L. Field tests for iron (with no digestion) measured 3.11 mg/L.
I told the Cowgers that I believed what they were seeing was iron or rust. Wartace has had problems in the past with rusty water complaints but they have been working on having the lines replaced. The Cowgers told me that the city had been replacing some lines within a block or two about two months ago but that their street had not been replaced.
I explained that iron is not considered a health risk. The standards for iron are secondary and are aesthetic only.
After leaving the Cowger residence I met with Chuck Stephens, water and sewer manager for the city. He told me that there were three customers on Sims Ave that were still connected to the old, cast iron main, the Methodist Church, 109 Sims Ave and 105 Sims Ave. (One of the employees at City Hall lives at 105 Sims Ave and had informed the city of water quality issues at her home.) Stephens said that work orders had already been drawn up to have the service lines moved over to the new water main that was to serve the area. Stephens said that he hoped to be able to move the services soon. I told him I was concerned about there not being an adequate chlorine residual at the residence. I asked if there was a way to flush the line. The current cast iron main is a dead end with no way to flush except through the meter taps.
Mr. Stephens called me at the office later that same afternoon to report that the city had moved over the service to the Cowger residence to the new water main.
I called Mr. Cowger today (11/20/14) to ask if the issue had been resolved. He reported that everything was working fine now.