TALQUIN ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT CLOUDY WATER

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN Editor

Administration from Talquin Electric Cooperative appeared at last week’s county commission meeting to answer questions about dark water in the utility’s system.

Appearing at the meeting were Tracy Bensley, general manager of Talquin, Water Manager John Halas, and David Miller, who represents Wakulla members on the board of directors. Halas explained that the system’s water has a seasonal problem with iron and manganese in the aquifer.
A filter at the utility’s well in Songbird had helped alleviate the problem in the past, but didn’t work this year.

“We got the well water clean,” Halas told commissioners, but by that time “it was throughout the system.”
A new well located on Wakulla-Arran Road should help in the future.

Commissioner Chuck Hess asked if the issue was saltwater intrusion, but Halas said that wasn’t the problem.
Hess noted that, in late fall, transpiration by trees has stopped and it is typically seasonally wet, which means more water coming off the forest – and that water is typically dark.

Halas said the new well is drilled, but with supply chain issues, he can’t say when it will be built. “As soon as possible,” he added.
Hess also asked about notices for trihalomethanes, which are formed when chlorine is used to disinfect water.

Halas noted that Talquin is in a pilot program to use an alternative disinfectant to see if it is an improvement.
He also added that Talquin has not sent out a notice on THMs for the last five quarters.

Commissioner Mike Kemp wanted reassurances that “Growth has nothing to do with this water problem.”
Halas assurred him it did not.