KEMPNER, Texas — The Kempner Water Supply Corporation (KWSC) held their board meeting Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. This meeting came off the brink of a Kempner City Council meeting where dozens of residents addressed their constant issues pertaining to water.
For months, residents have been telling 6 News about the city's brown and smelly water.
Residents have been under a boil-water notice since late June. Corporation General Manager Bruce Sorenson explained in the meeting that they can't give an estimate on when that notice will be lifted.
"Typically when the issues are resolved and the back T sample, which is the bacteria sample, is taken, proving that there is no bacteria in the system," Sorenson added. "The boil water notice is going to last up until I know the residuals are good."
Sorenson explained how the corporation plans to flush Kempner's water pipes of chlorine, which will equate to 1.5-2 million gallons. He added that even when they do this, they can't guarantee there will never be a boil water notice again.
Some residents have made claims that there was bacteria in Kempner's water and that was the reasoning behind the color and smell. Board members made it clear that there is no bacteria in the water system.
According to the board, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is involved in water observation for Kempner. After the TCEQ ran samples, Sorenson shared that the only thing found was low residuals of chlorine and manganese.
"The color right now is manganese so that's a naturally occurring mineral in the lake," Sorenson explained. "It was caused by the flooding in the lake and so everybody is experiencing that. As far as the odor goes, that might be some magnification."
According to Sorenson, manganese is very difficult to remove.
Board members credited the Central Texas Regional Water Supply Corporation (CTWSC) as to why their water quality has been poor. They claim CTWSC supplied Kempner with bad water so the KWSC has attempted to add chlorine to the water to fix the issue but it only got worse.
The KWSC budget was next on the agenda. Board members confirmed that the KWSC is $30 million in debt. The idea to increase customers' water bills every year for five years was mentioned in the meeting but it wasn't long before that idea was tabled.
"We have to pay our bills, you have to pay yours, but would you pay for something that you're not getting services on?" One resident explained to the board.
The KWSC also supplies water to Salado and Lampasas. Salado has had their fair share of water concerns like Kempner. However, in Lampasas, they re-treat their water before it enters the city.
Residents recommended the KWSC become a 'for-profit' corporation rather than a 'non-profit' corporation. They said this is what will help them apply for state and federal grants.
Board members admitted that they needed to do a better job at being transparent with the people of Kempner and plan to do better at that in the future.
The KWSC recommends people who have smelly, murky water to call them and have the corporation inspect it. They host their board meetings every fourth Wednesday of the month.