Walker board addresses water system inspection

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The Walker board of aldermen discussed the latest inspection of the water system conducted by Missouri Department of Natural Resources in Oct. 2016. The city received the results of that inspection on Jan. 4.

"These are the violations that were on the inspection that need attention," city employee and water system operator William Jeffrey said.

Included on the list given to the board were the following items:

* Deep well needs servicing.

* Backup chlorine pump.

* Clear well needs to be serviced

* Water loss needs to be under control.

* City needs to have a backup water system operator.

* A vent for the chlorine drum needs to be installed.

* Water system needs to have a back up power supply.

The city has until the next inspection in 2019 to correct the problems or they will become an official violation.

"We need an extra one on hand so that if that one quits pumping, we have one to replace it immediately." Jeffrey said of the liquid chlorine pump. "If we don't have one here, we go under a boil order until we get a pump. That's considered a violation."

"Even though we have two days supply of water in the tower?" Martin asked.

"We have two days of water in the tower, but how long is it going to take us to get a pump here?" Jeffrey replied.

Jeffrey said the last chlorine pump the city ordered took two weeks to arrive from the seller.

The pump costs approximately $800.

Moving on, Martin said that the deep well pump (located at the bottom of the well) needs to be pulled and the well casing replaced due to the corrosiveness of the water in the area.

Jeffrey said he will get the packet from DNR with the pre-approved contractors allowed to service the city water well and begin getting cost estimates.

The clear well, the holding tank in between the treatment system and the pumps that moves the water up to the tower, needs to be serviced as well.

Jeffrey said an outside air vent is now required for the chlorine drum in the water treatment system.

"It shouldn't be expensive, they just want it on there now." Jeffrey said. The vent will pull air into the drum from outside the well house instead of inside the well house.

Addressing water loss, Jeffrey said the city needs to continue looking for ways to reduce the amount of water lost each year through leaks, bad meters, and other sources.

In the documentation Jeffrey gave the board, he refers to a report he submitted to the city in January 2016 regarding a survey of the city's water system completed by Bartlett and West Engineers Inc.

The recommendations of that report included replacing existing water mains, overhaul of the water tower, replacement of hydrants and water meters, and other actions to be taken. The total project cost was estimated at $1.03 million dollars.

Jeffrey said Thursday that Walker's water system was installed in 1965 and has never had a complete overhaul. He did say progress has been made in replacing fire hydrants and water meters.

Alderman Phil Thompson said water loss in December was 12 percent; DNR wants to see less than 10 percent water loss.

In the documentation Jeffrey gave the board, he states the city does have a back up generator capable of operating the water system.

Lastly, the city needs a back up water system operator. Martin said an operator from Missouri Rural Water Association would be available if need be.

* Martin said he was happy to announce that all water and wastewater bills are currently paid in full.

* The board voted to unanimously pass a revision to the city's employee manual.

* Martin said he has asked Missouri Rural Water Association to evaluate the city's water rates.

* Martin said he is working with Kaysinger Basin Regional Planning Commission and the city may be able to secure some money to upgrade the city's water system through non-match grants in the near future.

* The board voted unanimously to approve a list of city property to be declared surplus and auctioned off.

* City employee Russell Hays said the fire hydrant located at Seventh Street and Marvin Street was broken. Martin directed that it be replaced. A new hydrant will cost approximately $2,800.

* Martin directed Jeffrey to repair the city's mower at a cost of approximately $375.

* Martin directed Jeffrey to repair a handrail on a piece of play equipment in the city park.