Photo slideshow at bottom of story.
By Lawrence Emerson
FauquierNow.com Editor
Bealeton’s water woes boiled into a heated discussion at Wednesday night’s “Heartland Town Hall Meeting” just outside of Remington.
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Photos/Lawrence Emerson
The southern Fauquier supervisors' first town hall meeting draws about 120 to the monthly discussion at the Remington Lions Club.
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County Supervisors Lee Sherbeyn (Cedar Run District) and Chester Stribling (Lee District) hosted their first monthly session to hear from constituents and to discuss local issues.
By 7 p.m. about 120 people sat in metal folding chairs at the Remington Lions Club.
Fauquier County Water & Sanitation Authority General Manager “Butch” Farley came to talk about the tainted drinking water in Bealeton.
WSA issued a “boil water notice” there Oct. 27, when officials discovered high levels of coliform bacteria in the system, coming from a well on the Mintbrook property.
Eleven weeks later, that notice remains in effect. People shouldn’t drink the water without first boiling it, according to WSA.
The source of contamination remains a mystery. But, officials believe the Aug. 23 earthquake changed subsurface conditions, leading to the problem.
Tests indicate “the influence of surface water” in the deep well.
“We have been accused of not communicating well, and that may be true,” Mr. Farley said. “But, I’ve always been reluctant to provide updates, when there are no updates.”
He distributed a 17-page handout detailing WSA’s efforts to solve the problem.
Six weeks of work failed to fix the well.
So, in mid-December, WSA started plans to use another, inactive Mintbrook well, which required state health department approval and weeks of testing, along with construction of a new water line.
“We have speeded up that process,” said Mr. Farley, adding that WSA hopes to have safe, potable water for customers in a week or two.
The authority also plans to build a $1.2 million water treatment plant for Bealeton. It will prevent recurrence of the problem, Mr. Farley said.
“One of the reasons I wanted to be here tonight is because I didn’t want people to think we’re sitting on our hands,” he told the audience Wednesday. “As soon as the boil water notice is lifted, we will post it (on the website) and mail it to every customer in Bealeton.
“We hope that’s next week or the week after.”
WSA General Manager "Butch" Farley talks with Bealeton water customer Tammy Rogers after his presentation. |
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But, Bealeton WSA customers at the meeting launched a barrage of criticism.
“I’m concerned for the community, because I’ve been sick,” Carolyn Jenkins said during a heated exchange.
“You would not want your grandson to drink our water,” Mrs. Jenkins angrily told Mr. Farley, who had mentioned the 4-year-old in his opening remarks. “And, we have a rate increase (last July) on top of it. It gets better! It is not fair to the community.”
Mr. Sherbeyn attempted to calm things.
“I believe they’re trying to do everything they can to protect the community,” he said of WSA and health department representatives.
Residents “who can’t afford food have been forced to buy bottled water,” Mrs. Jenkins continued.
She suggested the independent authority or county government should provide financial relief for those affected.
Several residents also pressed state health department representative Hugh Eggborn on water standards.
Residents said they have experienced rashes and diarrhea.
Mr. Eggborn recommended consulting family physicians and said doctors should contact the local health department if they suspect drinking water as the cause of illness.
He read from state regulations when asked why washing dishes in the tainted water presents no health risk.
Chris Butler asked why it took two months after the earthquake to discover the problem in Bealeton.
WSA tests the water on a daily basis, Mr. Farley said. Officials think something changed about 200 feet below ground that allowed surface water into the well, which the samples detected.
Bealeton resident Rick Buchanan called Mr. Farley’s attitude “cavalier . . . about an issue that affects so many of us . . . . The issue consumed the meeting because Mr. Farley was totally unprepared to take on the avalanche of pent-up frustration.”
The Bealeton water system has 1,304 customers, according to Mr. Farley. Local schools and restaurants continue to use bottled water for drinking.
The supervisors and residents also briefly discussed local highway projects and the possible extension of a sewer line from Bealeton to the airport near Midland.
John Green complained about expensive proposals and studies to slow traffic on four-lane highways. In particular, Mr. Green targeted plans for turning Route 17 into a tree-lined boulevard through Bealeton, with potential roundabouts replacing stoplights.
“I’m not sure a crosswalk is gonna work on Route 17,” unless the state builds a suggested Bealeton bypass, Mr. Stribling said.
“I’m not a roundabout fan,” he added. “Route 17, with the traffic going through there . . . a roundabout is not gonna work. As long as I’m on the board, I’ll never support a roundabout on 17.”
But, he stressed that citizens must make their concerns about transportation know to local and state officials.
Mr. Stribling cited “devolution,” under which some state officials want to turn secondary road maintenance over to local governments.
“These things are happening,” he said. “The easiest way for Richmond to balance its books is to push it down to localities with unfunded mandates.”
The two southern Fauquier supervisors collected questionnaires from the attendees Wednesday night and pledged to conduct the town hall meetings the second Wednesday each month, as long as citizens want them to do so.
Several citizens said they had trouble hearing in the hall. So the PA system and room setup probably will improve.
“I knew this was gonna be a difficult forum with so many issues,” farmer and retired builder Rob Ritchie said. “They need a really good emcee.”
The meeting also failed to address education, Mr. Ritchie said. “Sixty-five percent of money goes to schools. It’s a critical issue . . . . I think we need to have some serious discussions about fiscal responsibility.”
The two supervisors ended the formal meeting just after 8 p.m. But, they stuck around for another two hours, talking with citizens individually and in small groups.
A Fauquier Times-Democrat editorial had suggested that only a band and kegs of beer could draw a crowd to the Lions Club, which hosts dances twice a month.
As a joke, Mr. Butler brought in an empty Michelob Ultra carton and a red Solo cup.
But, Wednesday’s event remained as dry as a church supper.
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