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Testing the watersWednesday, September 3, 2008
This blog has a two-fold purpose. I'm testing a newsroom laptop equipped with a portable wireless connection -- the better to live blog by -- and I have a question for readers as I put the finishing touches on a story tomorrow about how small communities keep the drinking water, well, drinkable (techical term: potable). On Friday, the Scott County Health Department's administrator, Barry Cook, issued a letter that effectively gave the city of Chaffee and its businesses the right to use water, despite an outstanding Missouri Department of Natural Resources boil-water order. Cook said he did it to help the city, because state labs were closed through the weekend and he was told the city had sufficient chlorine in the system. But a DNR official in Poplar Bluff was not happy to hear about the letter, telling me -- in the nicest possible way -- that while he didn't want to fuss at the county health folks, the DNR's mandated boil-water order is not superceded by a county health department letter. What do you think?
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South Hanover Street (November 22, 2008) Cape County Commission action (November 20, 2008) Not quite on holiday (November 19, 2008) What number were you at the polls? (November 4, 2008) I endorse... (November 3, 2008) Hop to it! (November 2, 2008) Wrapping it up (October 30, 2008) In the media pack (October 30, 2008) Watching the detectives, uh, the media (October 30, 2008) Why bother voting? (October 28, 2008) Good riddance to a big mortgage (October 27, 2008) Cape County + budget. An update from the meeting (October 26, 2008) Prop B: home health workers (October 23, 2008) State issues safe drinking water report (October 21, 2008) Lost and found (October 20, 2008) Morley Swingle visits League of Women Voters (October 9, 2008) Fire call (October 9, 2008) Rick Springfield + Sahara (October 4, 2008) advertisement
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When the boiled water order was issued, it seemed to me that the problem had existed for quite some time already. I didn't see any reason to participate as nobody had gotten sick yet. Besides, beer is better in the dog days of summer.
Actually the water is tastier than it ever was. I've often had a feeling that the city water supply was supplimented by excess public swimming pool water.
Unfortunately the boiled water order has only brought to light the poor condition Chaffee's water treatement plant, and supply network are really in. In the older parts of town the pipes are literally coming through the faucets, toilets, baths and washing machines.
I'm sure the city will explore all possible options before raising the taxes ;)
Nonetheless, the problem is going to have to addressed.