Officials of the Cookeville Environmental Field Office of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation say customers of the Smithville Water System should not be alarmed about the quality of their water, despite a 76 inspection score based on recent violations that has placed the system in the State’s “Provisionally Approved” category.
Personnel from the Division of Water Supply visited the Smithville Water System and performed a Sanitary Survey on February 8th and 9th, apparently at the request of concerned citizens and, according to sources, the Environmental Protection Agency.
The findings revealed several violations, but none that apparently were serious enough to cause the city to be fined or sanctioned by the state or EPA. City officials say some of the violations have already been addressed and others are in the process of being corrected.
In a letter to Mayor Taft Hendrixson, Johnny Walker with the Division of Water Supply, Cookeville Environmental Field Office, addressed the violations as well as the “improvements made since the turbidity violation last February. In particular, the implementation of controls for automatic shutdown is a welcomed improvement. This will help eliminate finished water turbidity spikes and/or chlorine feed malfunctions providing an extra line of defense to protect the general public.”
Tisha Calabrese Benton, Public Information Officer for the Cookeville Environmental Field Office, says the purpose of the Sanitary Survey is to check for potential problems. “When inspectors do the sanitary surveys, they perform a comprehensive review of the water system and the score is based on that review. An “approved” score is 90 or better. “Provisionally approved” rates a score of 70-89, and a 69 or below is “unapproved”.
“In this case, the sanitary survey did note several things that needed to be done and the water system has certainly been agreeable to that, but I want to stress that none of these things are affecting the quality of the water. We feel the quality of the water at the Smithville system is very good. We do these sanitary surveys and we look for things before they ever affect the quality of the water. But again, nothing in this survey is affecting the quality of the water. The water is as good or better than it ever has been. The system has put better protections in place now than they have had in the past and we have asked them to make some corrections and we have every reason to believe that they will comply with that.”
Benton further explained that the sanitary survey manual has changed in recent months with some revisions in the regulations and certain things cited in this survey as a violation now may not have been a violation in the past.
Among the violations noted in the report are:
* The Division of Water Supply has approved four construction projects for the City since the last sanitary survey. We do not have on file any construction start notifications for these projects. Smithville or the contractor performing the work must return the construction start notifications to the Cookeville Field Office prior to beginning construction on any project.
* Smithville failed to provide a Tier 2 public notice within 30 days of learning of the violation. Specifically, public notice was not provided until May 2006 for a turbidity violation, which occurred in February, 2006
* Smithville’s distribution system standard operating procedures were unavailable at the time of the inspection. The city has since filed a manual with the state for approval.
* Documentation for calibration of turbidimeters was not available. City officials say that issue has since been corrected.
* Bulk chemical storage tanks at Smithville do not have level indicators or a retention basin with a drain around the tanks. Regulations for public water systems require both. Additionally, the chemical feeders and supply lines are in need of maintenance. Smithville must submit a plan to the Cookeville Field Office by April 1, 2007 that describes how the bulk tank chemical storage will be addressed including provisions for day tanks and supply line renovations
* Chlorine feed lines are vented in the chlorinator room. Regulations require chlorine feed lines to be vented to the outside atmosphere. Smithville must vent the chlorine lines to the outside atmosphere by March 15th, 2007. City officials say proper ventilation is on site and was missed by the inspector.
* Smithville collected all bacteriological samples for July 2005 on the same day. Regulations require samples to be collected throughout the month. City officials say employees have been instructed on the proper collection procedures.
* Smithville incurred a treatment technique violation in February, 2006 for having greater than 5% of the turbidity measurements less than or equal 0.3 NTU. We would like to commend Smithville for installing automatic shutoffs at the plant for turbidity. The plant shuts down for turbidity anytime the combined filter effluent stays at 0.2 NTU for 2 consecutive readings. Automatic shutoffs have also been installed for hi and low chlorine readings.
*The City of Smithville has a Cross Connection ordinance, however improvements must be made in operating procedures to ensure regular testing of backflow prevention devices. Said devices have not been inspected since the last survey. All identified backflow prevention devices must be inspected before March 12th, 2007 and documentation detailing said inspections forwarded to the Cookeville Environmental Field Office by March 15th, 2007. Any devices found to not be in good working order must be repaired or replaced by March 31st, 2007
* The intake pump house needs some improvement. Specifically, the interior ceiling needs to be repainted by May 15th, 2007. The floors and equipment need to be cleaned by March 31st, 2007. City officials say those improvements will be made.
* The Smithville Water System did not collect the required number of bacteriological samples after line extensions. City officials say that this procedure will be followed in the future.
The report also stated that ” The bacteriological sampling rate for the Smithville Water System will remain at six bacteriological samples each month based on the population served. State approval to conduct analyses for: turbidity, alkalinity, Ph, temperature, iron, manganese, hardness and chlorine residual is granted to Kenny Dyal (water plant manager). This approval is valid until the next sanitary survey and is contingent upon proper operation, calibration, and maintenance of analytical equipment.”
Tag Archives: 2007
Aaron Bain Young
92 year old Aaron Bain Young of Elizabethton, Tennessee died Sunday at the Hill View Nursing Home in Elizabethton. He was retired from the State of Tennessee as a gasoline tax examiner and was a member and deacon for many years at the Emmanuel Baptist Church. A graveside service will be held Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. at Whorton Springs Cemetery. Mark Bass will officiate. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Bertie Turner Young; his wife, Eva Dean Bain Young; two brothers, Bernice and Austin Young; and a sister, Magdalene Allen. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Songa and Gene Sams of Elizabethton. A son and daughter-in-law, Ronnie and Kathy Young of Bristol. Four grandchildren and two sisters, Marie Colvert of Smithville and Virginia Gill of Silver Point. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. There will be no visitation.
Anita G. Petway
90 year old Anita G. Petway died Sunday night at NHC Health Care Center of Smithville. The body is at Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Visitation will be Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. The funeral will be Wednesday but the time has not been announced. Burial will be in Salem Cemetery.
Joyce Elaine Kaczmarek
66 year old Joyce Elaine Kaczmarek, a retired factory worker of Smithville, died Monday at her residence. The body has been cremated and no public service will be held. She was preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin and Onolee Hatch Skidmore; a daughter, Tammy Kaczmarek; and brothers, Jim and Steve Skidmore. Survivors include children, Mary and her husband Mike Streamer of Smithville; Rick and his wife Jenny Kaczmarek of McMinnville; Todd Kaczmarek of Bliss, New York; and Misti Kaczmarek and companion Lamar of Smithville. Grandchildren, Amber Johnson and companion Nathan, Karena Streamer, Shannan Schillaci and companion Jeff of Smithville, Jayson and his wife Amanda Schillaci of Silver Springs, New York; Kayla Spencer of New York and Javontae Martin of Smithville. Three great grandchildren. Two sisters, Annette Kaczmarek of Dale, New York and Anita Burns of Warsaw, New York. A brother, Ron Skidmore of Warsaw, New York. Special friends, Ron and Sandy Carney or Orangeville, New York. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Carl M. Foutch
91 year old Carl M. Foutch of Alexandria died Saturday night at DeKalb Community Hospital. The body is at Avant Funeral Home in Alexandria. Arrangements are incomplete.
Anita Star Rockett
17 year old Anita Star Rockett of Smithville died Saturday at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a student. The funeral will be Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Mike Satterfield will officiate. Visitation will be Monday from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until the service at 1:00 p.m. She is survived by her mother, Rebecca Neal Crank of Smithville; her father, Darris Norvell Rockett of Nashville; a sister and brother-in-law, Hannah and Tim Burton of Smithville; and her maternal grandmother, Evie Sue Walker of Smithville. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. The family requests that donations be made, in lieu of flowers, to the funeral home to help with funeral expenses.
Joyce Lee Bailiff
55 year old Joyce Lee Bailiff of Alexandria died Saturday at NHC Health Care Center of Smithville. The funeral will be Monday at 3:00 p.m. at the Malone’s Chapel Baptist Church at Alexandria. Bill Shaw, Mike Gay, and Jerry Osborne will officiate and burial will be in the New Hope Cemetery at Alexandria. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 9:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. when the body will be taken to the church. She is survived by her husband, Robert Bailiff, Jr. of Alexandria. Step-children, June and her husband Robert Keith of Smithville, Gerald and his wife Gail Bailiff of Dowelltown, Ricky and his wife Christina Bailiff of Liberty, and Tiwanda and her husband Wesley Hall of Watertown. Her mother, Lee Grandstaff of Alexandria. A sister, Barbara and her husband Dwayne Cantrell of Alexandria. Nieces, Nancy and her husband Sam Malone of Brush Creek and Susan and her husband Thomas Coats of Alexandria. Nine step grandchildren and one step great grandchild. Two great nieces and two great nephews. Avant Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Willie Royce Redmon
65 year old Willie Royce Redmon of McMinnville died Saturday at Riverpark Hospital of an extended illness. He was retired having worked 32 years in management for the DeZurik Corporation. He was also a member of the Forest Park Baptist Church. The funeral will be Monday at 3:00 p.m. at the Chapel of High’s Funeral Home in McMinnville. Bobby Vickers will officiate and burial will be in the Bethlehem Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 8:00 a.m. until the service. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Ova Redmon; a sister, Bettye Prater; and brothers, John and Calvin Redmon. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Cantrell Redmon of McMinnville. A daughter and son-in-law, Melissa and Russell Barkes of McMinnville. Two grandsons, Wesley Colt Royce Southard and Christopher James Derick Southard both of McMinnville. Two sisters and brothers-in-law, Audrey and Eston Knowles of Smithville and Charlene and Melvin Pickett of McMinnville. One brother and sister-in-law, Keith and Sherry Redmon of McMinnville. Several nieces and nephews also survive. High Funeral Home in McMinnville is in charge of the arrangements.
Farris Hodges, Jr.
56 year old Farris Hodges, Jr. of Dowelltown died Sunday morning at his residence of a short illness. The funeral arrangements are incomplete. A complete list of survivors and funeral arrangements will be announced later by DeKalb Funeral Chapel.
H.C. Duke
77 year old H.C. Duke of Smithville died Friday at DeKalb Community Hospital. He was retired from Ford Motors and a member of the Bethlehem Community Church. The funeral will be Monday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Virgil Hibdon, Jr. and Mike Satterfield will officiate and burial will be in the Hill View Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar Denton and Ollie Durham Duke; a brother, Cordell Denton Duke and a daughter, Kathy Foster. Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Lynn Malone Duke of Smithville. Three daughters, Queta and her husband Dale Seifker, Stephanie and her husband Danny Austin of Michigan and Theresa and her husband Ronnie Turner of Smithville. Nine grandchildren, Blake and Ashleigh Seifker, Sherry Austin, and Danny Austin, Jr. of Michigan, Tia Dillard, Tracy and Rocky Cassity, and Tayla Turner of Smithville, and Deidre and Rob Nelson of Arkansas. Seven great grandchildren. One brother, Dewey and his wife Lois Duke of Smithville. Two sisters, Oleda Pedigo of McMinnville and Brenda and her husband James Bayers of North Carolina. Special cousin, Hoyte Duke of Smithville. Several nieces and nephews and extended family also survive and his little poodle “Sugar”. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.