Aging reservoir, hydrant use stir up tap water taste issues

Like many other metro areas in Georgia, dirt-tasting water may become a seasonal phenomenon in Macon, a city that has long prided itself for having some of the best-tasting tap water in the country.

The causes include an aging reservoir where algae is growing and heavy fire hydrant use that has shaken loose a harmless slime stuck to the inside of pipes, said Michel Wanna, Macon Water Authority’s assistant executive director.

“We have a lake that is getting up in age,” Wanna said at the authority’s monthly meeting on Nov. 6. “We know algae is starting to be in it. … When algae takes place more and more and it flipped the water and, with this fire, it’s like a perfect storm.”

The water authority received about 60 reports in recent weeks from customers complaining about a noticeable moldy, dirt-like taste to their tap water. Wanna said the authority obtained samples from fire hydrants nearest to the complainant’s addresses.

The samples were rushed to a lab in New Jersey, where they are being tested for geosmin and methyl-isoborneol, organic compounds that often are the culprit for earthy-tasting tap water.

Wanna noted many metro Atlanta cities receive widespread reports of dirt-tasting water seasonally as a natural process called “lake turnover” occurs in Lake Lanier, Fulton County’s reservoir. Lake turnover, in short, is when the water at the top and bottom of a lake reach similar densities and temperatures and more readily mix together.

“It’s a good lake, but also it’s a sediment tank for us,” Wanna said of Javors Lucas Lake, Bibb County’s 20-year-old drinking water reservoir on the east side of the Ocmulgee River in Jones County.

The reservoir opened in 2005 after nearly a decade of delays in its construction, according to Telegraph archives.

Columbus Water Works recently reported the same issue with its tap water, Wanna noted.

Wanna said the authority is using carbon filters it hopes will help better the taste of the city’s tap water.

Macon has routinely won awards for the taste of its tap water. It was named the best-tasting drinking water in North America in 2009.

MWA Chair Gary Bechtel read from a written statement to update the public on the water taste situation, which has prompted dozens of people to voice concerns online. The authority was mum about the situation but — following The Melody’s coverage — issued a news release blaming an “unusually high” number of fires that required heavy hydrant use.

“Some may ask why it took several days before we released a public statement, and that’s a fair question. The reason is simple: we wanted to be accurate and not rush,” Bechtel said. “Before issuing information to the public, our team was busy conducting tests, reviewing data, verifying sample results and cross-referencing field reports. Our goal was to confirm the facts, not speculate. We know our customers depend on accurate information — that’s exactly what we want to provide.” 

Water woes and flows

A trio of women — introduced as the “Thunder Women” by Katina Atmore of the Georgia Advocacy Office — came to the meeting in their collective pursuit for answers to questions about why their water bills spiked to exorbitant amounts in recent months.

All three are tenants at The Gardens, an apartment complex on Cavalier Drive that houses adults 55 and older. Atmore said most of the residents there are on a fixed income.

“The bills are astronomical,” Joyce Mason, one of the Thunder Women, said. “I went from possibly $35 a month to $80-90 this month.”

The high-dollar bills began rolling in about four months ago when the apartment’s managing company apparently outsourced its utility billing to a company outside the United States.

“I know they’re in Europe because I’m the kind of person that calls and asks, ‘Where are you from?’” Mason said. “And our concern is that being on fixed income and Macon Water Authority supposedly owns the lines and the meters.

“We want to know why this is. Everyone around us — all the business — they get their bills from Macon Water. Why do we get our bills from someone in Europe?”

Not only are the bills high, but Mason said the company also charges $6 in service fees associated with paying the bill. The West Macon apartment complex is owned by BFB Land Holdings, a limited liability company based in Valdosta, according to public records.

MWA Chair Bechtel explained it appeared the apartments — like many in Macon — use a master meter, meaning one meter measures water usage for the whole property instead of each tenant having a separate metered account with MWA. All apartments built in Georgia in 2012 or later are required to have submeters.

Since the tenants are not customers of MWA, Bechtel said there is little the board can do to help.

“In terms of our relationship with this particular owner, they are meeting their obligations and they are paying for what service we provide to that master meter, and they’re in good standing,” Bechtel said. “They’ve probably got something in your lease too that ties you into accepting the third party as the provider for your water service.”

Mason explained that the management company installed its own water meters at each of the 100 apartments, a practice the water industry calls submetering.

Bechtel said it would be unlawful for the company to resell water to tenants at a higher rate and collect more money than the apartment complex’s total monthly bill.

MWA board member Bill Howell suggested the Thunder Women check their meters on the first of every month and compare it with their water bills to see if the usage matches.

Valerie Wynn, another board member, suggested the Thunder Women hire a lawyer.

“You really have something to fight here — they bill you what they want. … My first thought is an attorney, but that costs money, you know; there’s no other way to fight this. … I’m just glad you all came,” she said.

Board member Elaine Lucas said she doesn’t want to see the Thunder Women get taken advantage of and “we individually ought to maintain that contact and come up with some strategy.”

In another matter, Cam Oetter on the north side of the county said he has watched as the stream behind his house stopped flowing then began changing its course, prompting his neighbors to hire landscapers to install riprap material to control erosion in their yards.

Oetter, who lives in a neighborhood between Zebulon Road and First Presbyterian Day School, said he is concerned about the impact of development on the creek and on surface water in the area.

“That creek is extremely large,” Oetter said to the authority board. “What if the 1980s survey for this subdivision needs to be updated? What might be the effects upstream or downstream of development that has happened out that way?”

Oetter also said he is concerned about the potential impact of developing 24 acres listed for sale at the intersection of Zebulon, Bass and Foster roads.

Eminent domain

Before adjourning the meeting, the authority went behind closed doors for reasons it did not disclose.

Nearly 45 minutes later, board members reopened the meeting and unanimously voted to exercise eminent domain to acquire 5.6 acres at 3112 Avant Place for stormwater drainage infrastructure.

The authority approved condemnation of the property, along with 3222 Avant Place, in February despite objections from the families who said they’ve tilled the farmland for generations.

It was unclear how much the authority will pay for the property, but the planned infrastructure is meant to reduce longstanding flooding issues in South Bibb.