Published: November 10, 2009 08:30 pm      

Town water problems clearing up

VEEDERSBURG, Ind. — Veedersburg’s water problem might be flushed away.

Street and water Superintendent Paul Keeling told the town council Tuesday night that a different method of flushing hydrants in town seems to be cleaning a lot of the iron out of the water lines.

The new flushing method was suggested by representatives from the Indiana Alliance of Rural Water. Councilman Steve Cates said that the new method “seems to be working so the town is making progress on the dirty water problem.”

Tim Hill, a representative of Peerless Midwest of Westfield, said the iron build up in the town wells is natural. Hill doesn’t recommend totally cleaning the wells or installing a new filtration system just to try and eliminate the iron problem.

A water filtration system would cost the town around $750,000 and would require 24-hour monitoring and daily maintenance.

“The wells themselves are in good shape,” said Hill. If the new flushing method doesn’t eliminate the dirty water, Hill recommended that the town have someone from the

E.M. Simpson Co. of Lafayette come and look at the town’s main.

Town resident Van Stevenson wanted to know how long it would take for the water to clear up.

Cates said, “If the water doesn’t clear up in a few weeks with the new flushing method, the town will request that someone from E.M. Simpson come to take a look at the water main.”

In other business, council members:

-- Learned Councilman Bob Barker, electric Superintendent George Gowens and waste water Superintendent Connie Sichts squared off a site at the wastewater plant for a possible new storage building. Barker said Sichts will have to determine what size she will require for her equipment.

-- Agreed to pay Jeremy Allyn, electrical engineer, the balance owed to him in the amount of $3,150 for his work to update the sewer chewer control panel at the waste water plant.

-- Heard from Fire Chief Terry Shields that two of the condemned houses in Veedersburg will be demolished sometime before Thanksgiving.

-- Learned from Keeling that three new fire hydrants were installed last week.

WHAT’S NEXT

The Veedersburg Town Council will meet at 6 p.m. EST Nov. 24 at the Veedersburg Municipal Building.