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Resident group warns of repeated Walker Road water-line breaks, shows cloudy sample; city says bids in progress
Summary
Mary Blankenship told the Byron City Council that her neighborhood has endured multiple water-line breaks since January and presented a cloudy water sample; the city said it is collecting bids for repairs, has begun keeping after-hours records and is coordinating with the Georgia EPD.
Mary Blankenship, speaking for the Walker Road Community Group, told the City of Byron council on April 12 that her neighborhood had experienced what she described as the third water-line break since January 2021 and that water remained cloudy for up to 48 hours after one recent repair. "It was cloudy and unhealthy," she said and showed the council a collected sample.
City Administrator Tiffany Sandefur told the council that records of after-hours breaks are now being kept and that she believes more training and education are needed to improve response. Mayor Michael Chidester said the city is conducting a cost analysis and collecting contractor bids for the area and that funds are being directed to address aging lines.
Blankenship asked whether the city would seek bids and when a repair would be completed. The mayor said pricing and data are still being collected and that the city is "hard at work" to correct problem areas. He also said the city water is at 60 psi and advised residents to open taps for 10–15 minutes to clear air when they see cloudy water.
The transcript records that Blankenship said she had been told by Public Works Director Tiffany Bibb that a boil-water advisory was not necessary; city staff said the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) is in constant communication with the city and provides guidance on boil-water advisories and routine testing. Sandefur said the city had not previously kept after-hours repair logs but has begun doing so since Blankenship's request.
The council did not take formal action on the complaint during the meeting; instead officials described operational steps under way, including recordkeeping changes, a cost analysis for repairs, and coordination with EPD. Blankenship thanked the council for hearing the concerns.
