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Superintendent: smoke testing found defects; Veneta Utilities Authority apologizes for dirty water incident
Summary
BUA Water Superintendent Justice Smith reported ORWA-assisted smoke testing uncovered widespread problems that allow rainwater into the sewer system and apologized for a recent dirty water incident; remediation steps were discussed but no formal action was recorded.
In a July 15 operations report, BUA Water Superintendent Justice Smith said ORWA was in town performing smoke testing and that the inspections found multiple defects in the sewer system that are allowing rainwater to enter sanitary lines.
Smith said inspectors found numerous broken clean-out caps on empty lots and other defects that let rainwater into the system, increasing the volume that must be treated at the sewer plant. He described the testing as “a bit of an eye opener.”
Smith also addressed a recent “dirty water incident,” apologized to residents for the problem and said staff are working to identify and fix the causes. He said the utility will use the findings from smoke testing to prioritize repairs.
The public discussion did not specify how many customers were affected by the dirty water incident, the precise cause, or a schedule for repairs; no motions or expenditures were recorded for immediate corrective work during the meeting.
The superintendent accepted responsibility for the incident in public remarks and asked for patience from residents while crews address the issues.
