Water Treatment Plant Update on Tonight's Manasquan Council Agenda

Residents experiencing discolored, odorous water could hear an update on the situation for nearly three months at tonight's Borough Council meeting, according to the agenda. 

During the governing body's work session, which begins at 7 p.m., the mayor and council will discuss the status of the borough's new $4 million water treatment plant, which came on-line in May.

Since then, residents of the neighborhood on Willow Way and surrounding streets have of rust-colored, smelly water pouring out of their taps. 

Borough officials have said the water leaving the plant is clean, but somewhere along the line iron in the pipes is seemingly being stirred up by a new additive the new plant is using in the water. 

While the large majority of residents have had no problems, residents of Willow Way and other surrounding streets have said for months the red-brown water is undrinkable and staining their clothes and appliances. 

The borough has been giving affected residents allotments of water, three gallons a day. On Fridays, residents may pick up nine gallons for the weekend.

Meanwhile, borough officials have been "bleeding" the hydrants the problem. 

According to an email late last month from Borough Administrator Joe DeIorio, "Fire hydrant water sampling continues on a daily basis. The borough also is sampling the water in residential homes to test pH, chlorine residuals and iron. The borough also will be testing for manganese. The borough's intent is to continue testing the water on Tuesdays and Fridays for the foreseeable future." 

Some residents last week said that the water quality had improved recently. 

“The smell and color is gone, but I’m still afraid to wash my whites in it,” Quinn Batcho, of Willow Way, said last week. “It ruined a load of towels and shirts on me once so I’m not taking any chances.”

In other news: The governing body has received all the bids for the Beach Headquarters building project. It expects to award the contract to the lowest bidder at Monday's regular meeting, which begins at 8 p.m.