Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon's Water Slightly Contaminated, But Safe

Samples of water taken from Gurdon's deep well near Lowe Field show signs of contamination.

However, the public is in no danger from the contamination.

Harold Hurst, superintendent of the Gurdon Water and Sewer Department, informed the Gurdon City Council, at its regular monthly meeting Monday night, of the situation.

He said under the Clean Water Act the city is required to have samples taken and tested. Recent samples have shown traces of Diethylhexylphthalate averaging 7.5 parts per billion. The maximum level allowed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is 6 parts per billion.

Steve Waldron, an environmental specialist with the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), said sampling of Arkansas' 800 water systems began in late 1993 for organic contaminants.

The chemical found in the Gurdon system at Lowe Field is commonly used in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resins.

Because this chemical does not occur naturally, the ADH is looking to see how it could have gotten into the water supply.

However, Waldron said Gurdon's water is safe for all public uses, and, in fact, is better than many water supplies across the state.

The amount of contaminant found, he said is equal to comparing seven seconds to 32 years. The ADH's goal, however, is to eliminate all of the contaminant in the system.

In the meantime, notices will be sent to all customers with their monthly water statements, letting them know of the chemical residue on the water.

Again, Waldron said there is no need for the public to panic because the level is so minute. In addition, he said the levels have been dropping over the last five test quarters and hopefully will go away completely.

Dr. Thomas McChesney, an epidemiologist with the ADH, said the contamination could not have come from raw ground water, and could come from materials used in construction of the well.

While the chemical is a B2 carcinogen, which means it can cause cancer in lab animals, Dr. McChesney said a man weighing 70 kilograms could drink this water daily for 70 years with the chance of getting cancer from it being 1 in 10,000.

He said the level of this chemical allowed in Germany is 200 parts per billion and there have been no adverse effects from their water.

Waldron said Gurdon has a good water system, and the people should be proud of it, and not fear this slight contamination.

Hurst said there is little the department can do at this time other than keep monitoring this well and the system as a whole.

He also gave the council an update on the rural water project.

Hurst said the department has 180 easements, but needs 245 before it can advertise for bids.

Some residents, he said, are concerned with the wording of the easements and are worried about damage to their property and trees.

In some situations, Hurst has gone on-site to show people where the water lines would be.

Additionally, he said the contract is in hand for the Red Springs property for a pumping station. A check has been mailed to Southwestern Bell Telephone and the deed should be coming back soon.

Residents along the proposed rural water system are still signing up for the project. Hurst said until construction begins this can be done for $125 with no problem.

However, after the dirtwork starts, then the fee will either be $350 or the actual cost of construction to a person's house.

In other council business, Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith displayed a map of the proposed annexation area.

He said the map was drawn to include populated areas and not timberland. This way, Smith told the council, the city can avoid surveying the property for annexation because the boundary lines have already been drawn and current legal descriptions exist.

However, before the property can be annexed into the city limits, the city must be able to provide immediate police and fire protection, along with sanitation services and water. Gurdon would have three years to provide sewer services for those annexed into the corporate limits.

The ordinance must be passed in three readings before it can be placed on the ballot for the November General Election.

Smith said a special called session of the council may bee needed in order to get this accomplished by the August deadline.

Hurst also asked if there were any plans to repair leaks in the roof of city hall. He said there are drips in his department's offices still yet.

In fact, Hurst said there have been leaks in city hall's roof for at least 10 years, and though several attempts have been made to correct the situation, the leaks persist.

Smith said patching doesn't seem to work, and has been working on a grant from a private foundation to remodel the building.

At this time, he said the city could get a carpenter to recaulk the skylights, but this would only be a temporary fix.

Should the grant be approved, Smith said, he would like for steel siding to be placed in the area of the leaks.