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WEIMAR CITY COUNCIL
The years long issue of dirty city water was the hottest topic at the Weimar City Council special meeting held last Thursday, June 26, with council members addressing concerned residents urging for immediate action.
Multiple residents took the podium during the meeting’s public hearing portion to voice their frustrations over the city’s handling of the water crisis over the years, with some commenting how the water is “yellow some days and brown other days just like tea,” questioning council members as to whether anyone would “want to drink water that looked like that.”
Other residents complained about dirty water running throughout the entirety of their homes, from their sinks to showers and even toilets, affecting not only their own personal use but potentially coming with health ramifications.
While most residents were in agreement that the “water clears up from time to time,” pungent smells have still been noticeable, alongside a blueish hue that is visible.
Newly sworn in city manager Donald Dixson has been swift to formulate a plan to counteract the years long issue, releasing a statement to Facebook on June 19 addressing the 220 complaints received in the “last 12 months” and communicating what he feels is the best solution.
In the statement, Dixson pointed out the more than 50-year-old galvanized iron waterlines are still in service, which resulted in deposits built over time in the wells. As a result, the city previously implemented a polyphosphate injection system to fight the problem but only completed work on two of the five wells.
Dixson aimed to have that same work be completed on the other three wells affected by the issue, well #6, #9 and #10, which he estimated would cost between $7,000 and $10,000 per well.
The item was approved by city council members alongside the addition of a 2-inch water loop on the dead-end water lines with flush valves and the replacing of a variable flow device on well #9 from a lightning strike that occurred on June 14 for $14,362.
The next Weimar city council meeting will be held on Thursday, July 10 at 5:30 p.m. in the city council chambers.
