Water Quality: Update for the Glenmore Community

From Albemarle County Service Authority

• The unidirectional flushing (UDF) project, which began on December 29, was concluded on Friday, January 20. The ACSA was quite fortunate to have minimal delays due to freezing temperatures during this period. Flushing occurred on every street/road in the subdivision, using both fire hydrants and blow-off assemblies, combined with valve closings, to accomplish an effective “scour” of our distribution pipes. We feel the project was very successful. Some of the pipe in the subdivision is approaching 30 years in age.

• The sediment that a very few residents were experiencing in their homes… tan; comprised of small flakes and grains; customers often referred to it as a soft “sand”… first became known to us in January 2022. By late December, I had spoken with fifteen (15) such residents, and had visited a few of their homes. The great majority of the affected locations were on the east side of the subdivision (east of Carroll Creek), and near the end of cul-de-sacs. For every one of these customers, we flushed from a nearby hydrant(s) or blow-off assembly. ACSA Maintenance always reported to me that they did not observe any of this material during flushing, even with using a white cup or white bucket for better visibility. Following the release of the identical e-mail by the ACSA and GCA, and the use of our message board, to announce the UDF in late December, we heard from an additional thirteen (13) residents. In a few instances, we were not sure if what these recent callers were experiencing was the same type of material. Now that UDF is concluded, I have begun the process of speaking with every one of these 28 residents, visiting their homes when necessary and obviously with their approval. 

• The ACSA has teamed with the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority (who operate the treatment plants) and with a nationally-renowned consultant to thoroughly address identification of the sediment, and to understand how it is occurring in such a limited number of homes (fewer than 3%), and in different areas of the subdivision. We have never previously experienced this sediment in another portion of our distribution system. We have received the results of testing on the material collected in one home (from a bathtub), and are awaiting the results on similar material collected from a second home (from the bottom of two conventional water heaters). In addition, the laboratory will be analyzing two sections of ACSA water distribution pipe that will be removed from the ground this week, focusing their attention on the condition of the inner, cement-mortar lining of the ductile iron pipe. Testing involves use of high-powered microscopy and x-ray diffraction analysis, and is anticipated to be completed in late March.

• Based upon the testing of the first sediment sample, it appears as if the material is not fine particles of shale rock as we first thought, and I was telling residents. (Small pieces of shale were seen in the flushing project, however). The material is composed of naturally-occurring minerals such as calcium, phosphate, and fluoride. The continued analyses should tell us more about how the sediment forms. However, we wish to assure everyone, with full confidence, that the water remains completely safe to drink and use.

• I anticipate another update in late March or early April, at which time laboratory reports will be made available.