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arizona
Citizen
Username: Arizona
Post Number: 147
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 1:33 pm: | 
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Did anyone read the recent Water Quality Report? Unless I am misunderstanding the data, although there are no "violations," in 15 of the 17 studies of "reglated" and "unregulated" substances and copper tested for, the amount detected was at the highest non-violation level of the range. In other words, in almost every category our water has the highest possible level that does not read as a violation. Are these results just coincidental? I read these results with some concern. I'm sticking with bottled water! |
noracoombs
Citizen
Username: Noracoombs
Post Number: 81
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 1:46 pm: |
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I saw that too, and was equally concerned. Does anyone remember ever getting one of these before? Did it come from the Village or from East Orange Water? I wonder if it's in response to recent complaints about the problems we've been having with hard water... |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 1147
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 1:48 pm: |
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also a little odd that the results are a YEAR OLD!
these can't be complicated tests that take a year to analyze!
/p |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 628
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 6:31 pm: |
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We get these about once a year, but I can't remember if the results have changed. |
bets
Supporter
Username: Bets
Post Number: 1522
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 11:30 pm: |
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This is only from memory, and I'm not doing research since I do need sleep occasionally, but South Orange used to run their own water plant using the pure, natural aquifers in town. Exxon (SO Ave) had an incident in which the water was polluted and they were ordered to pay some restitution to the village ($2 mil???). The village government, in their infinite wisdom (and yes, this was during the BC strangle-hold) turned around and sold its system of pure, aquified water to East Orange who in turn rewarded the village with shtitty water and the highest rates in the state.
Brilliant plan only meant to serve the citizens, right? Right. |
Analog01
Citizen
Username: Analog01
Post Number: 119
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 20, 2005 - 5:16 pm: |
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I think that you are misreading the report. The key limits are listed under the MCL and MCLG columns. These are the numbers that you need to be below. The next column is Amount Detected, which is self explanatory. The "Range Low High" column shows the measured range of the data collected. Thus Trichloroethane for example had a measured level of 0.26ppb, with a range from Not Detected (ND) to 0.26. The limit is 30ppb.
Please read the data carefully before jumping to conclusions.
That being said there are certainly some things that should measure lower, but in fact is seems that there are in fact no violations. |
snshirsch
Citizen
Username: Snshirsch
Post Number: 360
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 20, 2005 - 6:52 pm: |
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While I agree that the water report does seem to suggest that our water falls well below the limits in most instances, MY WATER SUCKS! It has to be the hardest water I've ever encountered, and where we've been buying bottled for years, now our dishes don't even come clean in the dishwasher.
I found it very interesting that last week we received a mailer for installing water softeners, haven't ever seen one of these before. |
arizona
Citizen
Username: Arizona
Post Number: 148
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 20, 2005 - 10:49 pm: |
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Analog,
FYI: I did say in my initiation of this post that "unless I am misunderstanding...."
I hardly think that this is jumping to conclusions. I also never suggested that there were any violations. Thanks for clarifying the issue. |
Howard Levison
Citizen
Username: Levisonh
Post Number: 270
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, May 21, 2005 - 12:05 pm: |
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This report is an annual event. It is obvious that its purpose is not communicated well to the community or what the findings mean. I would suggest that there should be a section on the SouthOrange.org web site that would go into a level of explanation and detail. It would also be helpful to see a year-to-year comparison.
You can also find the NJDEP version of these reports on:
http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/dep/swap/swapdata2.pl?psid=0705001 (East Orange Water)
It has been my understanding that the water fees are held artificially high to act as an indirect tax. This fee generates revenues to the South Orange Water Utility that in turn is transferred into the General Fund.
The effect offsets expenses that ultimately keep our real estate tax lower. Note that the higher water consumers such as businesses even those that have pilots will in effect contribute more in an indirect tax.
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Daniel M. Jacobs, PP, AICP
Supporter
Username: Conrail
Post Number: 32
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 23, 2005 - 10:00 am: |
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Good point Howard. I have heard the same thing and many other municipalities have a similar approach. One difference is, however, that water charges (and sewer charges, and garbage fees) are not deductible from federal income tax, unlike property taxes . . . |
Analog01
Citizen
Username: Analog01
Post Number: 121
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 12:18 am: |
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Arizona,
I did not mean to criticize or insult. But I am happy to have clarified the report. That being said, I personally am not happy with the water quality. The water seems very hard, dishes, sinks, faucets are all stained. Never had this much of a problem when I lived in Maplewood :-) |
dgm
Citizen
Username: Dgm
Post Number: 244
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 8:48 am: |
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Across the nation, municipal utility fund surpluses are used to contribute to the general fund. some will say that is for central administration charges, but other places the surpluses far outstrip the cost of administration.
I can't believe the third world quality of the the East Orange Water. Did their good water become contaminated? |
Howard Levison
Citizen
Username: Levisonh
Post Number: 272
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 8:53 am: |
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A resident raised an issue last evening that related to our Water Utility that was not answered. This resident had his water shut off and was requesting an understanding of who is in charge so that he may appeal to that authority.
It is my sense that South Orange runs the Utility which it outsourced to East Orange Water Commission the water purchase and system operation. I also assume that the Village President ultimately is in charge of this municipal utility and should be able to issue an "order" for East Orange to perform.
In addition, I would also expect that our DPW could provide Water Utility services under the direction of the Village President.
The question remains unanswered - who is in charge of our Water Utility? The BPU cannot intercede - Interlocal agreement. The Village Administrator will not discuss the contract - we are in litigation. His comment that he will spend some of his "good will" to have the water turned on is a generous offer but not one that I would expect from the individual who should be in charge.
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talk-it-up
Citizen
Username: Talkitup
Post Number: 152
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 9:20 am: |
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I do not understand "we are in litigation".
I was horrified at the treatment of the resident last night. I was also horrified at Taylor implying that the resident could be essentially not telling the truth. Yes there are two sides to every story but - turning your water off????
Imagine having your water turned off. That would be worse than no lights. That is abusive and I feel the Village should have addressed this as an emergency situation.
This should definitely be its own thread. |
wnb
Citizen
Username: Wnb
Post Number: 235
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 1:20 pm: |
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I don't need a report to tell us the water quality sucks and has been steadily getting worse since we moved here in '99.
We need a groundswell akin to the Pulte fight about the situation. I wish I could be that leader but I can't. But I would sure lend my support and financial assistance to anyone who would put in the time and effort to push hard and continuously for tangible improvement in our water quality.
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