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Published: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009 / Updated: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009 04:44 PM

Utility explores source of Foxwood water woes

FORT MILL TOWNSHIP -- 

The utility company that serves the Foxwood neighborhood said it is making efforts to improve the water quality in response to complaints about brown, smelly water.

Foxwood residents blasted their water utility, Utility Services of South Carolina, over the quality of their water during a Nov. 2 community meeting. Since then, the company has been performing water quality tests, including taking samples from the wells and distribution system in the neighborhood, said Utility Services official Bruce Haas.

Work on the water system in Foxwood will continue this week and through the weekend, Haas said Monday. The company will be looking at the piping, Haas said, and installing additional valves.

The company is also reviewing its flushing process, he added. Right now, flushing occurs twice a year as part of maintenance and when there is a leak or a resident calls about discolored water.

“The main thing we're looking into right now is our maintenance and flushing procedures and how the system is flushed to make sure we're doing it in the most effective way possible,” Haas said.

Flushing the system helps to clear the lines, Haas explained.

Foxwood resident Joe Ross said he's had brown water coming through his faucets at least three times over the past two weeks. When he called to complain, he was told that the water system was being flushed twice over the two-week period, which could account for the brown water.

Haas encourages any residents with brown water to call the Utility Services toll-free, 24-hour number, 1-800-367-4314.

Haas also recommends that residents flush their hot water heaters.

“People need to be aware of the importance of flushing their hot water heaters,” Haas said. “Typically, a hot water heater acts as a sediment basin and if there is any iron or manganese in the water that does settle out …as you run water through the water heater it's stirring stuff up and you'll have some discolored water coming out.”

That could explain the discolored water that confronted one Foxwood resident while bathing, Haas said. The resident spoke up at the Nov. 2 meeting, saying that brown water began to flow while she was taking a bath.

Two water issues in the neighborhood are some contaminants found in the neighborhood's water supply and frequent complaints about the color,odor and chemical taste of the water.

The two concerns are unrelated, DHEC officials told residents, because the contaminants in the water are odorless, colorless and tasteless. Efforts are being made to reduce the contaminants in the water, which is supplied by two wells owned by Wikoff Color Corp. The water service is operated by Utility Services of South Carolina.

Utility Services of South Carolina is considering tapping into York County's water lines to serve the 250 Foxwood homes rather than continue to use two wells. That would likely raise residents' monthly water bill, Haas added.

“It's an option we're looking at. A couple of things would need to occur. We'd have to get the exact cost pinned down, what would it cost us and the customers,” Haas said.

“We would still be the water distribution provider, but in effect you then have a situation where York County is providing the water and it adds another layer into the billing structure,” he said. “We want the customers to know exactly what those costs would be to them so they aren't surprised.”

During the Nov. 2 meeting, a citizen's committee was formed to work with the state Department of Health and Environmental Control and Utility Services of South Carolina to discuss how to improve the water and the feasibility of changing to an alternate water source.

Adam Myrick, a spokesperson for DHEC, said the citizen's group is scheduled to meet in December. Another meeting with residents will likely be in late January or early February to update residents on the group's findings, he said.

In the meantime, residents will be advised to boil their water while work on the water distribution system is ongoing. Notification to those residents will be made by telephone, Haas said.