Marion wants manufacturer to fix filter plant

Marion wants manufacturer to fix filter plant

Spence: ‘ I don’t believe we ought to have to fool with it’

news@theeveningtimes.com

As far as Marion is concerned, the problem at its new filter plant is a warranty issue and they want the contractor and manufacturer to fix it at their expense.

The city had to shut down the water filter plant on Washington Street last month because it is allowing sand and gravel to get into the system.

The plant was built in 2016 for $2.4 million and is located next to well No. 3 behind Trinity in the Fields Anglican Church.

“We don’t think Marion ought to pay anything,” said City Councilman Jim Spence, who chairs the water and sewer committee. “The thing is brand new.”

Spence said from what they can tell, the problem is that the filter media is getting into the water system.

Filter media is a fine layer of sand and gravel which is used to remove impurities from drinking water.

The big question though, is who is responsible. The city won’t know whether it is an equipment problem or an installation problem. To find out will require remov- ing all of the media. Tonka Water Treatment Solutions is the manufacturer and B& B Utility Contractors did the installation work.

Spence said both companies have been notified about the problem, but so far neither has said what they will do. The city is leery about doing any work on the system themselves.

“We won’t know if it is a manufacturer’s problem or the installer until all that stuff comes out,” Spence said. “I don’t believe we ought to have to fool with it. It’s not our problem.”

The city has a holdback payment of $19,000 that it is withholding from B& B in the meantime.

Mayor Frank Fogleman said the cost for new diffusers is $19,000. However, that doesn’t include the cost to remove the media or the labor.

And, at least one water customer has suffered damage to their plumbing as a result of the media getting into the system.

East Arkansas Youth Services, which is located next to the filter plant, told the city they have had $4,500 in damages and has asked the city to reimburse them for their plumbing expenses.

“As far as I’m concerned that’s B& B’s and Tonka’s issue too,” said Councilman Cliff Wood.

Wood suggested the city hire a company to come in and remove the media.

City Attorney James “Jimbo” Hale, agreed but advised the city not to do any work on the plant with city workers and to get a third party to look at it first. “We don’t know what’s wrong with it,” Hale said.

“But we know we didn’t have anything to do with it.”

Fogleman added that since both Tonka and B& B have been notified of the problem that they needed to wait a reasonable amount of time for a response.

“It’s getting time to ask them do they have a response,” Fogleman said. “If there is no response from either party, then we are going to act ourselves and take some steps.”

Councilman Kelly O’Neal inquired whether there was a service they could hire to do the work.

“Do we have anybody out there who can take the media out of the filters?”

O’Neal asked.

Water Department Manager Jim Shempert suggested Jim’s Tank Service.

“I assume they could do it,” Shempert said. “I like the idea of going with a third party to see what’s wrong with it.”

Shempert said he was told by Tonka that B& B signed off on having anyone from the manufacturer being present during the installation.

“Tonka said something along the lines to us that (B& B) didn’t want anyone there during installation,” Shempert said. “But the guy who was here wasn’t sure and was going to check on it.”

The city council agreed to let Shempert get a price quote from Jim’s Tank Service but to wait a little longer for a response from Tonka and B& B.

“I suggest we find out a number to have somebody do it professionally,” Fogleman said. “Then that’s in our arsenal of information. We need to make contact with both parties by phone and ask what their plan are. We know we need to act and that there is a cost. We feel like it is a warranty problem. If not, then we will go ahead and have somebody

do the work.” Spence agreed. “We should be reimbursed,”

Spence said. “None of this is our fault.”

By Mark Randall