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Indiana-American Water Co. representatives did not reassure Warsaw city council members Monday about water quality, public safety and service.
Projects designed to improve water pressure and quality have been put on hold until next year, although they were promised for this summer.
Project delays did not sit well with councilman Jeff Grose, who had assured residents in his district the company would make improvements this summer.
Grose's own water is substandard, he said at a meeting last June. "I am not letting my family drink the water," Grose said 12 months ago. "We have to yell at my 3-year-old to stay away from the sink. We're paying $40 to you, and more to someone else for drinking water."
Conditions at his Clark Street home have not improved, nor have those of his neighbors on Fort Wayne and Grant streets, he said.
Gurkin, Cole and Keith Morgan, a regional operations executive, addressed the council with Gurkin presenting a list of projects completed since 2000, when IAWC assumed the service from Hoosier Water. He said the new well gives Warsaw customers a two-thirds mix of iron filtered and one-third iron sequestered water.
He said a pipe "loop" installation at Fort Wayne Street, through Colfax to East Main, will keep the water moving and improve quality.
"In the older area of town the water often sits," Gurkin said. The recent semi-annual hydrant flushing should also clear up rusty-looking water.
Councilman Bill Rhoades said that despite flushing, the water has not improved along Sharon Street nor at Byers Apartments.
"It's still very bad. It looks terrible four days after flushing," Rhoades said. "I wouldn't throw it in Pike Lake."
"Councilman Rhoades, you can count on me to go over there and check that out," Gurkin said. "If they had called me I'd have already been there."
In a response to a question about water pressure from councilman Charlie Smith, Gurkin said older homes often have galvanized pipes. The company will perform water pressure checks at no charge.
Councilman George Clemens, who owns several water system stores in the region, said Warsaw's water is the worst.
"There are a lot of water conditioning systems in the city. People bring in clogged filters all the time," he said. "These are strange conditions for a city with water service."
He asked Morgan if projects were prioritized based on water quality.
"You deal with the hand you're dealt," Morgan said. "Warsaw water is iron heavy."
Cole explained that the company's budget was figured on an annual basis. Gurkin's budget request included the Fort Wayne Street loop and improvements to city hydrants. In January the Warsaw improvements were cut.
Jan. 10 Apollo Acquisition Co. merged with American Water Works Co. and was purchased by RWE AG of Germany, a divison of the Thames Water Aqua Holdings. IAWC is a subsidiary of American Water Works Co.
Cole said industrial sales are declining, with the company losing several large customers, as well as a gradual reduction in residential revenue.
"We had to prioritize projects again and spread them out over the next few years."
He said the Fort Wayne Street and hydrant rehabilitation projects "will be done as soon as we can break ground in 2004."
"I'm very disappointed," Grose said. "People are asking, Hal, asking me what happened. You made a commitment to us last year."
Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins suggested the company did not perform due diligence before buying Hoosier Water.
"You're stripping off debt service at the expense of maintenance. With the completion of the second wastewater treatment plant, it is very important we have water lines and service when we run new sewer lines," he said.
Warsaw fire chief Matt Warren said the situation is completely unacceptable, that there are hydrants with no water and too many with hardly any pressure.
"On East Center Street, the water pressure is extremely low," Warren said, indicating houses and commercial buildings had become a safety concern to the fire department.
The low pressure hydrants have been identified with red caps.
"Whether it is quality or safety," Grose said to Cole, "you're responsible."
Gary Probst, developer of Pike Lake Pointe Apartments, said he had been assured of receiving adequate water service by August. He also appeared at the May 20 council meeting to discuss the water service to the apartment complex.
According to Morgan, the 6-inch water main is encrusted to a diameter of 3 inches.
Morgan said he learned of the situation last week, and the company would be applying a chemical to clean the main as soon as a schedule was made, supplies arrived and the customers contacted.
"We have 100 people on the waiting list and have to have them in by August or we lose $90,000 per month," Probst said. "In August, excuse my language, all hell's gonna break loose if this is not taken care of."
"Is there anything you can do to revisit the project for safety concerns?" Grose asked.
Cole said the money is not available.
Members of the city council are: Trish Brown, George Clemens, Jeff Grose and Bill Rhoades. Jerry Patterson and Joe Thallemer were absent.
