Updates given on discoloration, main break in Ashland water system

Sep. 26—ASHLAND — At its monthly meeting Monday, the Ashland Area Municipal Authority said that it had successfully treated discolored water that had been coming from its water treatment facility.

In his report, the authority's treatment plant operator discussed the results of a series of recent water samples, which had been conducted after the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection dispatched an operator to Ashland on Aug. 24 due to an increase in complaints, and increased iron and manganese levels in water.

Iron and manganese samples were collected at several locations served by the authority, according to the operator.

Manganese levels at four locations, he said, were shown to be slightly above the federal secondary standard of 0.05 milligrams per liter, which indicates the presence of aesthetic effects in drinking water, such as taste and discoloration.

The locations with higher manganese levels included North Schuylkill Junior/Senior High School, The Donut Shop and the Ashland sewer system.

At the request of the DEP, the operator conducted retests of the four sites and found the levels had dropped to "well below the standard," he said.

Jennifer M. Kowalonek, of Alfred Benesch & Co., the authority's consulting engineers, had said that initial investigation of water exiting the plant showed that it was at "safe consumptive ranges."

In her report at Monday's meeting, Kowalonek said the authority had been notified of a water main break in Ashland around 1:50 a.m. Sept. 17.

After investigating the break, which had occurred near 30 Centre St., the authority issued a systemwide boil water advisory later that day, she said. The main was repaired around 7 p.m. Sept. 17.

The break had caused a "disturbance to the entire system," resulting in approximately half of its 1 million gallon tank being drained, Kowalonek said.

"Water was shut off coming into Ashland, and the tank valve was closed to help limit any finished water being lost," she said, noting that the majority of customers had lost water service at some point on Sept. 17.

Once the main was repaired, she said, borough workers began flushing hydrants in the system to minimize debris from the repair. All water service was restored by Sept. 19, with the boil advisory lifted the following day, according to Kowalonek.

The authority estimated the total water loss at 1.5 million gallons, including the water lost from its facility. Authority members said they do not know what it would cost to recover the water, but said it would not be a total loss.

Also at the meeting, the authority approved the water system master plan, a digital map prepared by Alfred Benesch & Co. that would identify hydrants, valves and other components within the water system.

"When (the authority) has to do flushing, it will find the areas of issue within the system that we would have to flush out, so it would give you a more efficient plan, for fewer water losses," Kowalonek said.

The authority approved the plan, with the cost not to exceed $8,000.

Contact the writer: hlee@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6085