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Huntingdon fires supervisor at water plant
By Cori Bolger, cbolger@altoonamirror.com
POSTED: June 6, 2008
HUNTINGDON — The borough fired its water treatment plant supervisor Thursday for failing to notify the public when the plant recently violated treatment standards.
The state Department of Environmental Protection served the borough two notices of violations that occurred April 21 and May 21. The borough faces fines for the violations.
‘‘We don’t appreciate doing it, but we’re delegated with the responsibility of making sure the water supplies are safe for those who don’t have any control,’’ said Cliff Gray, a DEP water supply specialist.
After a borough investigation, plant supervisor Barry Wilson was fired ‘‘due to his inability to make proper decisions and give proper direction to water treatment plant employees.’’
Wilson of Huntingdon was employed by the borough for 18 years and spent the past two years as plant superintendent.
Efforts to reach Wilson for comment Thursday were unsuccessful.
Heavy rainfall caused cloudiness in the water, leaving the treatment plant to rise above the accepted level for three hours April 21, DEP officials said.
The plant was shut down immediately when the high levels were detected.
Borough officials failed to issue a boil water notice to customers and report the problem as required by the state.
A boil water notice is required anytime the cloudiness reaches a level where it could affect the filtering process, Gray said.
On May 21, an equipment malfunction in the fluoride feed system emptied a fluoride drum into treated water at the plant. The water then was pumped into the borough water system.
The leak caused fluoride levels to exceed the maximum contaminant level for a two-hour period.
Fluoride, a tooth decay deterrent, can cause tooth discoloration in children younger than 9 if levels get too high. Drinking water containing twice the recommended amount may increase the risk of bone disease.
Fluoride treatment is suspended at the plant until the equipment can be repaired.
‘‘Once borough officials became aware of these two situations, immediate action was taken to determine what happened, how it happened and what steps could be taken to prevent either from occurring again,’’ a written statement issued by the borough read.
The problems have been resolved, and there is no longer a risk of water contamination.
It’s unlikely major problems would arise from exposure in such a short time, Gray said.
Borough officials will meet with the DEP in July to determine the cost of fines.
The state Department of Environmental Protection served the borough two notices of violations that occurred April 21 and May 21. The borough faces fines for the violations.
‘‘We don’t appreciate doing it, but we’re delegated with the responsibility of making sure the water supplies are safe for those who don’t have any control,’’ said Cliff Gray, a DEP water supply specialist.
After a borough investigation, plant supervisor Barry Wilson was fired ‘‘due to his inability to make proper decisions and give proper direction to water treatment plant employees.’’
Wilson of Huntingdon was employed by the borough for 18 years and spent the past two years as plant superintendent.
Efforts to reach Wilson for comment Thursday were unsuccessful.
Heavy rainfall caused cloudiness in the water, leaving the treatment plant to rise above the accepted level for three hours April 21, DEP officials said.
The plant was shut down immediately when the high levels were detected.
Borough officials failed to issue a boil water notice to customers and report the problem as required by the state.
A boil water notice is required anytime the cloudiness reaches a level where it could affect the filtering process, Gray said.
On May 21, an equipment malfunction in the fluoride feed system emptied a fluoride drum into treated water at the plant. The water then was pumped into the borough water system.
The leak caused fluoride levels to exceed the maximum contaminant level for a two-hour period.
Fluoride, a tooth decay deterrent, can cause tooth discoloration in children younger than 9 if levels get too high. Drinking water containing twice the recommended amount may increase the risk of bone disease.
Fluoride treatment is suspended at the plant until the equipment can be repaired.
‘‘Once borough officials became aware of these two situations, immediate action was taken to determine what happened, how it happened and what steps could be taken to prevent either from occurring again,’’ a written statement issued by the borough read.
The problems have been resolved, and there is no longer a risk of water contamination.
It’s unlikely major problems would arise from exposure in such a short time, Gray said.
Borough officials will meet with the DEP in July to determine the cost of fines.
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View Comments: | 1-9 | Post a comment
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PureWaterPro
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06-10-08 1:57 PM
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The toxic fluoride psychos are at it again. Any excuse to jump on a blog or comment post and rant with a lot of erroneous and mis-quoted info about fluoride. When are you going to post the one about Hitler controlling the masses by putting fluoride in the water and removing the peoples will to fight back. And never believe anyone who repeatedly tells you to "follow the money". They are just nutcases who think everything going is a government conspiracy. Shultzy, did the airforce actually shoot a missle into the Pentagon on 9/11?
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JimSchultz
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06-08-08 10:03 AM
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Fluoride causes many diseases from cumulative toxic effects. Meant to say the only damage you can easily see is dental fluorosis. In India it is common to see many with damaged spines and distorted bones but most of us in the US just get to the joint pain phase but with rising fluoride exposures from contaminated food expect to see more and worse damage. Lots of fluoride pesticides out there and our foods can be fumigated leaving huge amounts in almost any food. Reminds me of a Russian game with guns. Just point and fire. Your water departments wants 6 in the chambers not one. Feeling lucky?Jim Shultz
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JimSchultz
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06-08-08 9:53 AM
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It really does seem short sighted to fire the water plant guy and still keep the commission. Listen to the now 19 EPA unions who think fluoride should be regulated just like lead and arsenic with a safety goal of ZERO. Do some research and discover you got very bad advise from living in the past Dentists,health department etc. The only proven result of fluoridation is dental fluorosis to kids teeth. The York study showed 15% became 48% when fluoridation started. Is pourous didcolored brittle enamel goo for your kid. Dentists make huge amounts repairing it. Think hard. Follow the money. Kids need good nutrition not toxic fluoride a dentist. Poor kids get fluoride instead. Burt 2007 showed fluoridated Detroit with almost 100% of 5 year olds with cavities and often many. Fluoride water, soda , chips Lots of decay. fluorideaction**** Jim Schultz
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anitaknight
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06-07-08 12:05 AM
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Here in central Florida, near Tampa are the phosphate mines and fertilizer industries that are the source of fluoridation agents. In "The Geology of Florida", 1997, Univ. Press of Florida, page 143 notes: "In addition to uranium, fluorine is an economical byproduct of phosphoric-acid production. The fluorine from the rock reacts with silica to form SiF4 gas. During acid production this gas is recovered as fluorosilicic acid (H2SiF6) in wet scrubbers that are part of the environmental-protection equipment. Fluorosilicic acid is widely used in the preparation of chemical compounds and in the treatment of public drinking water."
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anitaknight
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06-07-08 12:01 AM
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"A boil water notice is required anytime.." This definitely is a "no, no" for overfeed of fluoridation chemicals, as they do not evaporate, but accumulate. Therefore, boiling will increase the commercial grade fluoridation agent along with the contaminants in the feed. Request the AWWA Standard for the type fluoridation agent used in your drinking water and see the entire page of contaminants there. Most often used is Fluorosilicic Acid, liquid form that's easier to apply to water system. Other dry chrystaline forms are Sodium Fluoride and Sodium Fluorosilicate. You can Google: Lucier Chemical Inc.,Ltd, and see the details.
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JimSchultz
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06-06-08 5:22 PM
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In 1986 the Headquarters union of the EPA filed a lawsuit after studies were changed and fluoride levels increased against good judgement. Fluoridation violates all safe drinking water rules they claimed. Now 19 of the EPA professional unions demand immediate moratorium from this fraud upon the people. Also 1700 scientists and professionals worldwide have demanded a end to this unproven mass medication with contaminated toxic waste So many people damaged and no decrease in cavities. Really stupid and dentists are the Judis here.Dental incomes soared past doctors and cosmetic restoration makes them rock star rich. Conflict of interest? Poor judgement? You follow the money. Always follow the money. Fluoride damages 50% with multiple tooth damage. In the 90's it was 66.4% damaged with one tooth or more so they changed the rating method so it was 22%. Then 32% aug 2005 CDC data but the CDC did not publish the 48.42% in the 2003-2004 study. Jim Schultz
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JimSchultz
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06-06-08 5:09 PM
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It is not good to have an overfeed of fluoride but it is even worse to have fluoride at all. Maybe the council needs to review the current science as ingested fluorides have no measurable benefit. The 2000 York review showed they do increase dental fluorosis damaged enamel in kids from 15% to 48% when fluoride used. This is not good as 1ppm has no topical benefit like toothpaste. Fluoride is a cumulative toxin and builds up in the body with every use just like lead but more toxic ant at allowed levels up to 267 times more then lead. They add about 60 times more in typical water then allow for lead. Lead and arsenic both have a goal of ZERO but fluoride a goal of 4000ppb even being more toxic then lead. Is this stupid? Yes. NaSiF6 which is the toxic smokestack scrubber waste used for water fluoridation has not one safety study ever. But the up side it is cheap as it saves the industry of expensive toxic waste disposal dumping it in our drinking water. Sorry not a joke. Jim Schultz
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Chuxspringer
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06-06-08 5:07 PM
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It was just another GOVERNMENT imposition of; 'It's good for you!'
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Chuxspringer
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06-06-08 5:06 PM
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Maybe we don't need ANY FLUORIDE! Fluorosis can lead to decay in teeth and bone, andhas been linked to Alzheimer's, kidney damage, cancer, geneticdamage, neurological impairment, and bone pathology. The widespread and uncontrolled use of fluoridein our water, food, juices, beverages, and dental products iscausing widespread overexposure to fluoride in the U.S.
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