OWASA hears from residents about the water crisis at Thursday's board meeting -

The Orange Water and Sewage Authority discussed the Feb. 3 water crisis and heard input from residents at the board meeting Thursday. Staff writer Lauren Talley live-tweeted the meeting.

Tonight we will be live from Chapel Hill Town Hall tweeting the OWASA Board Meeting!! pic.twitter.com/JvDIR2xzPr
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 23, 2017

Board recognizes Sallie Edwards, an accounting technician II, who had worked for OWASA for 40 years
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

"If anyone deserves years of rest, it's Sallie - hats off to her," Kevin Ray, finance manager for OWASA who is also retiring soon
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

OWASA chair John Young reads resolution honoring Sallie's service
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

"Ms. Edwards is a dedicated, hard-working public servant who is admired, loved and respected by all," Young said
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Board passes resolution and moves to a second resolution recognizing the 40th anniversary of OWASA's beginning operations
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Board adopts resolution and moves to main focus of tonight, the continued discussion on the Feb. 2 fluoride overfeed & Feb. 3 water break
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Young expresses apologies for any inconvenience and hardships the fluoride overfeed and water main break caused
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Ed Kerwin, exec. dr. of OWASA, says fluoride overfeed was noticed within 12 seconds and no overfed water left the treatment plant
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Kerwin says the pipe which broke was set up to fail 44 years ago on the day of its installation
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

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"Unfortunately it failed right on the heels of the fluoride overfeed," Kerwin said
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

The Inter-Faith Council for Social Services is asking community to donate to emergency fund aiding residents near Foxcroft Dr.
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

The area was flooded when the water line broke
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

The Board then turns to public comment
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Citizen Bill Garrity is first and wonders if there are other structurally unsound pipes that should be checked/replaced
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Garrity is also concerned about lead in water and John Young assures that there is no lead in water
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Kerwin says the pipe that broke was under a storm water drain and that there are no other pipes in this similar situation
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

"Our standards are very rigorous to make sure no situation occurs again in the future," Kerwin said
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Young also notes that on OWASA's webpage there is results of recent lead testing
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Cory Sturmer is next and wonders if OWASA is mandated by any organization to fluoridate the water
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Young says no, but this is not a Q&A on fluoride treatment
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Sturmer also asks how they know this over fluoridated water never left the plant
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Kerwin says multiple samples of water was tested and none tested to have been overfed with fluoride
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Third citizen steps up asking why OWASA is not holding public hearing on whether citizens want their water treated with fluoride
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

She hopes OWASA will reconsider their policy on fluoride treatment
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

She brought her sons to the meeting in hopes OWASA will be accountable to public opinion and have an open mind on fluoride treatment
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Fourth citizen steps up presenting facts to OWASA Board that fluoride treatment in water has not been proven to be beneficial
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

"Tooth decay does not represent low fluoride treatment, but low-income," she said
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Young recognizes initiative to hold public referendum on the issue of fluoride treatment
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Young says there is significant support of adding controlled amounts of fluoride to water from respected organizations such as US EPA & CDCC
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Young also says there is additional information on fluoride treatment in water on OWASA's website
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

"It's a rather complex matter," Young said on fluoride treatment
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

OWASA board member Bob Morgan says he is open to public comments and a referendum on fluoride treatment of water
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

It is then determined that the Board actually has no authority to conduct a referendum
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

OWASA Board Member Ruchir Vora hopes people can be helped in knowing how much water they would need as to prevent hoarding of water...
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

...if any incident like this were to ever happen again
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

During shortage, water consumption by the city decreased by 38%
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Board closes on topic and moves to report on the 12 month OWASA Board meeting schedule
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

OWASA Board Member Heather Payne suggests a decreased rate change to offset the additional cost the recent water emergency caused customers
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

The topic will be further discussed at later meeting
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

The Board passes motion to further discuss and review fluoride policy on March 9 meeting
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

Board convenes to closed session. Thanks for joining! -@LaurenTalley13
— DTH City (@DTHCity) February 24, 2017

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