As the City of Wessington Springs works to keep its aging water plant viable until the Mid-Dakota Rural Water connection project is complete, they are seeking the public’s help to complete the final item on the above top ten list: improve sampling and reporting.
In the grand scheme of the water system, when it comes to the water plant, the repairs needed are vast and nine of the ten items requiring emergency attention have been completed.
“We are puzzled why the brown water persists and why chlorine levels are inconsistent, even on the same water line,” said City of Wessington Springs Mayor Ryan Knipfer. “We have been flushing mains in the correct order and the chlorine levels vary from hydrant to hydrant.”
Knipfer said public works employee Robert Wenzel has been documenting the chlorine levels and sending them to SPN & Associates Engineer Camden Hofer who will take the numbers and plot it out on the water distribution map.
But now Mayor Knipfer is asking for the public’s help.
“We need to get real time data when people are experiencing brown or rust-colored water,” he said. “As soon as you notice it, we ask that people call city hall and we will send an employee out to take a sample. I even carry test bottles in my pick up so it could be me showing up at your doorstep too.”
Knipfer asks that even if brown water occurs after business hours to call and leave a message at 605-539-1691.