T
BY BECKY TURNER AND DEBBIE MANER
A Matter of Taste
Summer 2013 |
NCRWA.COM
31
heWater Taste Test is an exciting time at the NCRWAAnnual Conference.
Water systems from around the state are invited to enter their water in the
contest. Samples are graded from 1 to 5, with 5 being the best, on color,
clarity, odor and taste.
A complete list of rules for the Water Taste Test is on our website – www.
ncrwa.com. The basics are that samples are submitted in unmarked quart
glass jars. The samples should be a representation of water from your
system. We receive the samples and assign them a random number.
Samples are placed in a secure cooler on site at the Conference.
The winners of our Water Taste Test are invited to submit a water
sample in the National Rural Water Taste Test. There they compete with
systems from across the nation. The upcoming National Rural Water
Taste Test will be held in conjunction with the National Rural Water
Rally in Washington, DC in February 2014. NCRWA is proud to invite
this year’s winner to represent our state at the National Rural Water
Taste Test.
The winner of the 2013 NCRWA Water Taste Test is the Kerr Lake
Regional Water System (KLRWS). A huge congratulation goes out to
their staff. They have a long list of distinctions behind them as they
won third place in the 2011 NCRWA Water Taste Test, first place at the
2002, 2001 and 2000 NCRWA Water Taste Tests and second place in
1994 and 1989. They also are credited with completing the first Source
Water Protection Plan (SWPP) approved by the state of North Carolina in
2007. Their SWPP consisted of an educational campaign, public outreach
and involvement, more stringent enforcement of pollution reduction
measures within their source water protection area, and encouraging
more permanent land conservation in their contributing area.
KLRWS is a public water system serving portions of Vance, Granville,
Warren and Franklin Counties in the central northern portion of North
Carolina. The System serves three bulk customers - the City of Henderson,
City of Oxford, and Warren County - which currently supply water to the
Town of Kittrell, Town of Norlina, Town of Warrenton, Town of Stovall,
and Town of Middleburg. The KLRWS consists of a conventional surface
water treatment plant, distribution mains, storage tanks and water meters.
John H. Kerr Reservoir (Anderson Creek on Kerr Lake) serves as the
water supply. The system uses an average of 6 million gallons per day to
supply a population of almost 55,000 people.
Treatment of the raw water consists of sodium hypochlorite as a
microbial deterrent, fluoride to promote good dental health in school-
aged children, alum for coagulation, polymer to help with coagulation,
caustic soda to regulate the pH, Corrguard to help slow down corrosion
of the distribution lines and potassium permanganate to help with iron
and manganese removal and taste and odor. There are currently ten
certified operators that run the treatment plant. They all should be proud
of a job well done.
Thanks to KLRWS and to all who participated in the contest. A special
thanks also to our judges this year – Marvin Hutchinson from USDA,
Rita Moroczek, Water Conservation Specialist with the NC Division
of Water Resources, and Pam Baughman with the Virginia Rural
Water Association.
How does your water measure up? Make plans to submit a sample
for next year’s Conference and see how your water compares to other
systems from around the state.
