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Resident raises missed sampling and violations; council defers further spending on lead-and-copper inventory while staff gathers peer examples
Summary
A resident with water-quality experience told the Black Mountain Town Council the town missed dozens of required bacterial samples and received state violation letters; the council asked staff for a follow-up water update and deferred further spending on a federal lead-and-copper inventory until it reviews peer practices.
Mark White, who identified himself as a former director of water quality, told the Black Mountain Town Council during citizen comment that the town had received state violation letters tied to missed sampling and other issues.
"Back 16 months ago ... well number 1 and well number 5 was taken offline," White said, and he told the council a contractor had missed bacterial sampling. He told councilors the contractor missed 40 monthly BACTE samples (the contractor was supposed to take 10 per month) and that the town received a violation letter in November; he said fines accompany the violations but did not specify a dollar amount. White said he had copies of the violation letters and offered to provide them to the town.
Town staff acknowledged the concerns and added that water distribution temporary repairs were completed early in the recovery work and that staff are pursuing DEQ and FEMA funding avenues for longer-term work. Council asked staff to include a water-system update in the April recovery update.
Separately, staff briefed the council on the town’s $500,000 zero-interest loan the town obtained to complete the federal Lead and Copper Rule inventory process. Staff said the town has spent roughly $17,000 so far on the inventory contractor and that the field-work and replacement-planning elements could be started quickly once the council authorizes the next steps. Given recent federal legislation and two resolutions in Congress seeking to repeal or delay parts of the federal rule, the council asked staff to gather information on how other municipalities are proceeding and deferred any immediate decision about expending the loan funds beyond the $17,000 already spent.
"We submitted our initial inventory on time," a staff member said; staff also noted that, if the council chooses to proceed with field work, that process may take six to eight weeks once contracted work begins. Council members agreed to revisit the question after staff returns with peer examples next month.
No formal motions or vote tallies were recorded on the water-sampling citations or on whether to proceed immediately with lead-and-copper field work; the council directed staff to report back with additional information.
