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Wallsburg water crews flush and chlorinate after mapping error; SCADA alarms under repair
Summary
Town staff reported a mapping error during pipeline work that pushed stagnant, chlorinated water back into the distribution system; crews flushed hydrants and added chlorine nightly while a contractor was scheduled to repair false alarms in the SCADA system.
Wallsburg town staff told the council Sept. 5 that a mapping error during recent water‑system work temporarily allowed stagnant, chlorinated water to re‑enter the distribution system; crews flushed hydrants and treated tanks while technicians prepared to fix alarms in the SCADA monitoring system.
Troy Ossler (project presenter/staff) described the sequence: crews attempted to fill both an old and a new tank but “couldn't get it up the hill,” creating conditions that drew chlorinated, stagnant water back into the mains. He said crews opened hydrants and circulated treated water until chlorine levels stabilized.
Why it matters: Council members said residents might taste or smell chlorine while the system clears; staff emphasized the water was treated and “safe to drink” though “not appealing.” The town is also addressing a separate monitoring issue: the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system has continued false alarms and a consultant was scheduled to visit to diagnose and repair the sensors.
What the council heard and directed
- Immediate response: Staff reported they had been dosing tanks nightly (at the dosing rate discussed in the meeting) and had circulated water through hydrants to move chlorine through the system. The upper tank was being chlorinated to avoid stagnation as crews cut services over to new piping.
- Equipment and monitoring: Staff said they will engage a technician (Chris Scott) to repair the SCADA false alarms and will investigate whether the control battery backup needs replacement because the backup did not function during a recent power outage.
- Communication: Staff warned residents that they “may taste a little bit of chlorine for a little bit” while flushing continues.
Details and context
- Staff reported adding chlorine at a rate intended to achieve approximately 1 part per million in a 25,000‑gallon volume (described in the meeting as dosing to protect against stagnation during cut‑overs).
- A contractor was scheduled to diagnose the PRV/monitoring false alarms and to reduce manual overrides currently required to control the system.
Ending
Council members were told the immediate contamination concern had been addressed through flushing and chlorination and that technical repairs to the SCADA and consideration of replacement battery backups would follow; no regulatory enforcement or boil order was issued at the Sept. 5 meeting.
