2019 Water is Essential - Article & Survey
Water Complaints are Far Too Common
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NOTE:
This survey was sent out in July 2019 and I received a lot of feedback, a summary of which is at the bottom of this page. |
These photos were taken by a homeowner on King Street in Endwell:
Luckily, most people never get discolored water, however, some people get it regularly. For those who do, it’s a very serious issue. Not only is it disgusting but it’s also very bad for home appliances, businesses that serve water, landlords, tenants, etc. How often do you get discolored water?
The water in Endicott and Endwell is supplied by the Village of Endicott’s Municipal Water Department, which is entirely owned and operated by the Village of Endicott.
Broome County’s only official contact with the village water system is through the Health Department’s periodic water testing program, which has always found the Village’s wells to be entirely safe! Therefore, the discoloration problems occur somewhere between the village water wells and customers’ faucets.
After one particularly bad incident, I visited the Water Board myself. I was prepared for an argument. However, I was pleased to find that the Water Board and its employees were eager to fix the problems. Unfortunately, the water system is too big and too complex to be solved with simple changes. In fact, the village water system contains nearly 180 miles of pipes, installed over a long period of time. It services approximately 45,000 people in nearly 14,000 businesses and residences. It’s so big and so complex that there’s no unified map, which makes upgrades and changes difficult.
The water in Endicott and Endwell is supplied by the Village of Endicott’s Municipal Water Department, which is entirely owned and operated by the Village of Endicott.
Broome County’s only official contact with the village water system is through the Health Department’s periodic water testing program, which has always found the Village’s wells to be entirely safe! Therefore, the discoloration problems occur somewhere between the village water wells and customers’ faucets.
After one particularly bad incident, I visited the Water Board myself. I was prepared for an argument. However, I was pleased to find that the Water Board and its employees were eager to fix the problems. Unfortunately, the water system is too big and too complex to be solved with simple changes. In fact, the village water system contains nearly 180 miles of pipes, installed over a long period of time. It services approximately 45,000 people in nearly 14,000 businesses and residences. It’s so big and so complex that there’s no unified map, which makes upgrades and changes difficult.
Once I saw the size of the problem, and understood the universal frustration, I convened meetings with key players. Together we developed a cost-sharing agreement between Broome County and the village, that has helped the village commit over $70,000 for water system mapping and infrastructure studies. These studies are taking place now and should be completed by the end of the summer. The recommended solution(s) won’t come overnight and, depending on the results, could take several years to implement, but I’m very encouraged by the village’s attention and cooperation.
What’s your experience? Please read the survey below and give me your opinion.
What’s your experience? Please read the survey below and give me your opinion.
Survey Results
The numbers show that water is a serious problem in our community. Approximately 60% of respondents report discolored water more than once per year, with many experiencing it more often than that. For those that have it the worst, it's a "top priority". Read through the data and submit your own response.
How often do you experience discolored water coming from your faucet?
Did you call the water department about the issue? (only for those who reported a problem)
Did the water department fix your problem? (only for those who called)
Have you installed a filtration system to remediate your water problems? (only for those who reported a problem)
Comments (Paraphrased & summarized to protect the innocent):
Demographics & General Statistics:
How often do you experience discolored water coming from your faucet?
- 30% often - three or more times per year
- 15% periodically - twice per year
- 15% rarely - once of less per year
- 40% never
Did you call the water department about the issue? (only for those who reported a problem)
- 50% yes
- 50% no
Did the water department fix your problem? (only for those who called)
- 20% yes
- 80% no
Have you installed a filtration system to remediate your water problems? (only for those who reported a problem)
- 40% yes
- 40% no
- 20% can't because they rent
Comments (Paraphrased & summarized to protect the innocent):
- Cost me $3,500 to install a whole house filtration system
- I shouldn't have to install a water filtration system to fix the water department's incompetence
- I get dirty water every day
- I get dirty water several times per month
- I've had discolored water for 63 years!
- Bad water about once a month
- Only discolored when they flush the hydrants twice per year
- As a renter I can't install a water filtration system even though I desperately need it
- Water quality & safety is the biggest issue we face in our house
- I hope it's safer than it looks
- I remember when I was young we had the best tap water around
- Water department never helps
- Water department came to hosue flushed system and fixed the problem
- And that's just a small sample of the comments I received on the airport!
Demographics & General Statistics:
- Nearly 10% of those receiving the survey responded, which I think is pretty good!
- Approximately 50% were men and 50% women
- Approximately 50% arrived as paper copy and 50% came online