Perhaps the fine folks at West Fork have gotten too comfortable with polluting the region's water supply.
When inspectors from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality early this month found "sewage overflow was occurring and the wastewater was entering the White River," here's what West Fork utilities Superintendent Butch Bartholomew offered: Residents shouldn't be concerned because the plant floods during heavy rains, and what inspectors saw was rainwater emerging from the system.
What’s The Point?
West Fork’s continuing issues with sewage treatment should be a serious concern for all of Northwest Arkansas.
It's getting awfully deep, and we're not talking rainwater. Last time we checked, rainwater shouldn't be mixing with sewage at any point in a sewer system's processes. Yes, it's something to be concerned about.
West Fork's sewage treatment plant became operational in 1973 and was built in a lousy location. State officials say the plant has clearly outlived its useful life and continues to deal with a heavier flow of sewage than it was designed for.
It sits on the east side of the West Fork of the White River. For those unfamiliar with the White River, just go turn on the faucet and get a big cup of drinking water. Unless the plumbing is connected to a well, that drinking water is coming from Beaver Lake, which is fed by the White River.
This is a prime example of how the politics and policies of a small town can have far-reaching impacts on more than just its residents.
Mr. Bartholomew may not be concerned because he's gotten used to West Fork's history of environmental violations. That's nothing to get comfortable with or to expect others in Northwest Arkansas to let slide.
Sewage diluted by rainwater is still sewage. Health officials took note of just how many swimming spots there are along the river, and Beaver Lake has been known to have a swimmer or two. Nobody who understands the importance of clean water to this region can dismiss what's happening in West Fork as insignificant.
Perhaps what Bartholomew was saying is there's not a lot he can do about it, and that may be true now. The city is working with Fayetteville contractors to work out a method to connect West Fork's sewage collection system via a seven-mile pipeline to Fayetteville's Paul R. Noland Wastewater Treatment Plant. It only makes sense this community -- like Farmington, Johnson, Elkins, Greenland -- make an arrangement with the bigger city for treatment of its sewage. It should have happened years ago. Fayetteville's plant treats to stricter standards and will actually operate even more efficiently with West Fork's flow going to the plant.
West Fork continues working to establish what repairs are needed to stop rainwater from leaking into its system, a key development to keep Fayetteville's plant from seeing rain-induced surges and to keep West Fork from paying Fayetteville to treat rainwater that should have never been in the system to begin with.
We hope everyone involved in this is working as quickly as possible to end water pollution by West Fork's outdated system and to strengthen the environmental protection of the region's water supply. It is a resource Northwest Arkansas communities can ill afford to abuse.
Commentary on 04/19/2014