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Saltville reports 47.4% unaccounted-for water; council briefed on smoke testing and pump-station plans
Summary
EMS reported April water accounting showing 16.65 million gallons pumped and 47.4% unaccounted-for water (7.9 million gallons); public works reported smoke testing identifying missing cleanouts and illegal sump/gutter connections and the town said it is renting pumps at $5,000/month while awaiting a new pump station connected to a DEQ consent order.
Saltville's contracted operator, Gary L. Johnson of EMS, Inc., reported a substantial discrepancy in water accounting for April: the town pumped 16,654,787 gallons but could account for only 8,757,613 gallons of use — a difference of 7,897,174 gallons, or 47.4 percent unaccounted for.
The report, submitted to the Virginia Department of Health and discussed at the May 12 council meeting, flagged the discrepancy for follow-up under the town's DEQ consent order. Public Works Director Brandon Frye described smoke testing work along Plaster Co., Old Quarry Road and Allison Gap Road that identified missing or broken cleanouts, baseline infiltration points and properties with sump pumps or gutters connected to sanitary lines; the department plans to send letters to property owners requiring remediation.
Rosenbaum and Frye also briefed council on several capital projects: VDH WSL 025-18 (meter and radio-read installation) held a pre-construction meeting May 4; the DEQ C-5151740 pump-station project has not had a pre-construction meeting but is expected by early June. Frye said the town continues to rent two pumps at a combined cost of $5,000 per month while awaiting permanent pump-station work.
Council was told Crossroads engineering (Les Sutherland) will brief the Water, Sewer & Refuse Committee on planned projects and timelines. No immediate corrective appropriation was approved at the May 12 meeting; council received the reports and directed staff to continue smoke testing, repairs and committee briefings.
