Damage suspected for limited water

After three months of investigation, Creston Waterworks General Manager Steve Guthrie told his board Tuesday he may know the reason why the water treatment plant has had produced limited amounts since June.

“I’m not 100% sure, but it’s close, that it is the the matting on what they call the septum between the underdrain and the carbon,” he said.

Those pieces, the septum and underdrain, are part of the water treatment process. The matting may have broken or calcium buildup caused to plug the ensuing parts of the water process. All of the desired water was not going through the entire system.

“It’s unusual the septum plugs. It’s not something you normally replace,” Guthrie said.

The plant is calibrated to produce about 4,500 gallons of water a minute, but since June, data has showed it was about 4,100 gallons. Guthrie said that 4,100 amount was still enough to provide for Creston Waterworks and Southern Iowa Rural Water Association. Both entities have since asked their customers for voluntary water conservation efforts, knowing the demand for water typically increases in high heat.

Southern Iowa Rural Water is expected to start using its own water treatment plant for its customers early next year. With fall in season, the odds of a high heat day are minimal. Guthrie said Creston Waterworks plant can treat at least 4 million gallons a day. Guthrie said he has not heard from SIRWA about the situation.

Even since the occasional high heat days since June, Guthrie said there was still enough water but it does stress the entire system on those days.

But repairing the parts is labor and budget extensive.

“In order to do that, we take a filter out of service, remove the carbon, replace the matting, put it back in and put the carbon back in. We are not in a position to be down that long. We are meeting demand.”

Removing a filter lowers the amount of water produced. Creston Waterworks uses seven filters. Not providing SIRWA customers lowers the amount of water needed.

“It’s labor intensive,” Guthrie said about the repair work.

He estimated at least $500,000 to repair or replace the parts of the system. Guthrie said that amount is not in the budget but financing is possible. He added Creston Waterworks is not equipped or experienced to do the repair on its own.

Considering the formal process to make the repair using contract labor, Guthrie said the work would not start for at least another four months, if that is the needed repair. Guthrie will continue to confirm his research. The board did not take any action.

Board member Mark Eblen was not in attendance.

In other water news...

The representative of an account holder in the 600 block of North Cherry who disputed an outstanding amount last month has not contacted the office. The account had until today to respond. If not, another collection letter will be sent with a two week deadline.

The gate of the dam at Three Mile Lake, the source of water for SIRWA, was closed early this month according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.. The lake has been lowered approximately 8 feet and the gate will be periodically adjusted to maintain this level of drawdown as part of a lake restoration project.

Managers will maintain the lake at approximately 8 feet below normal lake levels until fall 2024, when the water will be lowered up to 11 feet to expose areas of shoreline and lake bed for construction. Water being released through the lake’s outlet structure will be released slowly to avoid downstream impacts.

Construction activities will begin this fall and be completed in spring 2025, when managers will allow the lake to refill. The lake will remain open for boating and recreation throughout the project with boat access maintained at the main boat ramp. Boaters should use caution with the lower water levels as tree stumps, cedar tree brush piles, and underwater reefs may be at or near the water’s surface.

The restoration project will improve and protect water quality in Three Mile Lake and provide new recreational opportunities for this popular destination. Planned activities include stabilizing the shoreline, improving the jetties, installing fish habitat and modifying the existing in-lake silt basin.