GREENSBORO — The Greensboro Town Council unanimously decided to provide credit to residents following water quality issues in July.
During its Thursday town meeting, council members approved a seven-day credit totaling to $7.21 per household or building.
Town Manager Tammy Kelledes said the credit amounted to $1.03 per day and told the council how much six-day and seven-day credits would cost the town. The adopted seven-day credit will cost the town around $6,000.
Any building connected to the town’s water systems will receive the money at the end of the next billing cycle in mid-September.
Mayor David Spencer explained that there were “at least six days” where residents “didn’t feel comfortable drinking the water,” and instead bought bottled water. The credit will cover July 19 through July 22 and July 26 through July 29.
“We weren’t able to provide water in a timely fashion to the people that may have needed bottled water,” Spencer said at Thursday’s meeting. “So this is just a way for us to consider recognizing the issue that was caused and the hardships that some of our citizens went through because of the water and a way for us to give back to them.”
The decision comes nearly a month after the town experienced water quality issues. On July 19, the town issued a boil water notice, advising residents to boil water before drinking due to high chlorine levels.
Later in the month, residents continued to report chlorine-like smell and taste in their drinking water. On July 29, the town announced its water and wastewater contract operator, Susquehanna Operational Services, conducted tests and found higher than normal chlorine levels.
The town deemed it “deliberate sabotage” and said “one of the chlorine regulators had been tampered with.” A town release stated the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office would conduct a criminal investigation. No updates to the investigation have been provided by the town or county police.
Since, the town has updated its safety measures, including changing the locks to the well houses. At an Aug. 1 meeting, the town made a “contingent” motion to purchase security cameras and keypads from SafeHouse, a security system company. That motion is conditioned on if counsel determines whether or not the town must legally seek out other bids for security services.
Comments / 0