JACK O` LANTERNS! - Isle of Palms Water and Sewer Commission

JACK O’ LANTERNS!
KIDS
CORNER
SHOW US YOUR PUMPKIN CARVING DESIGN SKILLS!
SPOOKY, SCARY, CUTE, OR CREATIVE - WHAT KIND OF
PUMPKIN DESIGN ARE YOU CARVING UP THIS SEASON?
EBB&FLOW
ISLE OF PALMS WATER & SEWER MISSION STATEMENT
TO SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS BY PROVIDING SAFE, CLEAN
DRINKING WATER THAT MEET ALL FEDERAL & STATE
REGULATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE
WASTE WATER FACILITIES THAT OPERATE TO PROTECT &
PRESERVE OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.
FALL 2014 NEWSLETTER
ISLE OF PALMS WATER & SEWER COMMISSION
1300 PALM BOULEVARD, IOP, SC 29451  (843) 886-6148
WWW.IOPWSC.COM  OPEN MONDAY-FRIDAY, 8 AM– 5 PM
ON HALLOWEEN,
DON’T FORGET ABOUT
OUR FRIENDS ON
SULLIVAN’S ISLAND
TH E
ISLE
O F
PALMS
WATER
AN D
SEWER
CO MMISSIO N
STO RIES O F T ECH NICAL
PRESENT
HO RRO R
I T C A M E F RO M T H E TO I L E T
B A B Y
W I PE S

US E D
( D O N ’ T
T R Y
M O P S
T H I S
AVOID LATE PENALTIES ALL TOGETHER  INQUIRE ABOUT OUR AUTOMATIC DRAFT SERVICE
ONLINE AND IN THE OFFICE, THE COMMISSION HAS DRAFT FORMS AVAILABLE FOR AUTOMATIC BILL PAY WITHOUT THE MAILING
AND DEADLINE HASSLES. BILL PAY IS AUTOMATICALLY DRAFTED ON OR AFTER THE DUE DATE OF EACH MONTH. CUSTOMERS
ENROLLED IN AUTOMATIC BANK DRAFT STILL RECEIVE A PAPER BILL IN THE MAIL, AS THEIR PERSONAL RECIEPT COPY. DRAFT
SERVICES CAN BE STOPPED AT ANY TIME.
PRE-ADDRESSED ENVELOPES FOR BILL PAY ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST IN THE FRONT OFFICE  STOP BY OR CALL
COMMISSIONERS
JAY D. LEIGH
JOHN J. FERRELL, JR., PE
CURTIS HELFRICH, PE
DANA W. LOVE, JR., PE
NICHOLAS J. STROUD
GENERAL MANAGER
KRISTEN J. CHAMPAGNE, P.E.
SPECIAL PROJECTS ADMIN
WILLIAM P. JENKINS
COMPTROLLER
LYNNE T. STONESIFER, CPA
A T

T O WE L S
H O M E ,
F O L K S )

O H
M Y
COMMISSION NIGHTMARES
“IT CAME FROM THE TOILET”
Collectively, we’ve all heard urban legends and sometimes true accounts of
nameless ’things’ making their way through residential and commercial plumbing.
While most people have nightmares about vermin and various reptiles slithering
through their sewer pipes, here at the Commission we have real life nightmares.
Namely, home good nightmares.
COMMISSION NIGHTMARES
“the day we had to drink
♥
mixed water”
Thursday, August 14th, 2014, somewhere in the middle of the night Charleston Water Systems’ (CWS) pipeline
feeding Sullivan’s Island and the Isle of Palms began losing pressure. Preparing for the worst, CWS shut off water
services to the line anticipating a quick repair. Faced with supplying both Sullivan’s Island and the Isle of Palms with
potable water, IOPWSC had to pool all of its water resources together including the island’s more ‘flavorful’ well
water - much to the chagrin of its patrons.
Baby wipes and adult wipes
Hold up, I know what you’re thinking. We’re inundated with advertisements touting
the hygienic wonder of baby wipes, often advertised as the ‘Benz’ alternative to
toilet paper and ‘flushable.’ Yet, despite their packaging and readily disposable
claims, your cucumber-melon scented adult wipes wreak havoc on wastewater systems galore - sometimes having lasting effects on your own internal plumbing.
Unlike toilet paper, baby wipes do not dissolve and/or disintegrate in wastewater like
traditional toilet paper does. While sewer systems have the ability to grind and break
down virtually anything thrown at them - eyeglasses, dentures, toys, etc. - baby
wipes are incredibly resilient, flexible and durable. Instead of breaking down, the
wipes bind and clog, making system repairs frequent and costly. Already larger systems outside of the Isle of Palms have made million dollar repairs on their systems
purely because of baby wipes. An unfortunate and hazardous side effect of these
repairs happens when wastewater systems go down. The time lapsed between systems needing to repair to when their issue is fully resolved and back on line results in
harmful bacteria festering and pipe blockages to exponentially get worse. At its
worst, events like these push raw sewage back into people’s personal and commercial properties where the homeowner is then responsible to contend with the mess.
Terrifying and disgusting.
PAINTs and prescription drugs
Have you just remodeled your home and have spare or antiquing paint lying around?
Perhaps you have expired prescription pills, medicine you no longer need, and want
to dispose of? If this applies to you, DO NOT flush or pour these items down the
drain. Latex paint, oil-based paint, and virtually every form of chemical solvent (e.g.
mineral spirits, toluene) are classified as household hazardous waste (HHW). Prescribed medications on the other hand, expired or not, are extremely potent and
harmful to future human consumption when flushed down the toilet or sink. There is
no mechanism or chemical treatment used to break down pharmaceutical substances
leeched into wastewater. Over time all of these chemicals amass in local water systems and eventually filter back into the local water supply, potentially having adverse
effects on humans as well as wildlife. Throughout the US, these items have designated local facilities and programs that annually take back these items for proper
disposal. When discarding unused or out-dated paints and prescriptions carefully
read the label and follow any manufacturer’s directions. You can also check with
local recycling, take-back programs, and Hazardous Material departments through
out the tri-county area. In the Spring, the Isle of Palms Public Works department
holds an annual Hazardous Materials Collection where unacceptable items uncollected throughout the year can be turned in.
“pink slime”
Throughout the year, especially during warmer weather, have you ever
found light pink rings forming in your toilet, bathtub, and shower stall?
Or perhaps you have found a slimy film growing around wet surfaces in
your home such as the kitchen sink? Reminiscent of the terrifying and
profusely growing alien amoeba from the 1958 horror film, The Blob, the
pink pigmented bacteria Serratia marcescens, seemingly harmless, can be
anything but given the circumstances. A known human pathogen, S.
marcescens is a common hospital-acquired infection (HAI). The bacteria
naturally grows in nearly every moist environment harboring phosphorous containing materials and/or fatty substances. These sources of
growth include soap residue left behind in bathing areas, residues left
over from toilet waste and food particles left in sinks and pet bowls.
These pathogens are usually introduced into interior spaces by window
units or having a window open to the outside. Once the organism begins
to visibly fester, eradicating it from a space can be remedied with any
bleach-based disinfectant over time. Rinsing and drying wet surfaces also
prevents the establishment of these bacterium, thus removing it from its
food source and making its environment unsuitable.
Serratia marcescens under the microscope.
FATS, OILS, AND GREASE
Everyone knows oil and water do not mix, so imagine the mayhem fatty compounds
and lipids wreak on residential, commercial, and waste treatment facilities. Fats in
general have poor solubility in water, giving them the tendency to separate, pool, and
thicken around the water surface. In the collection process of wastewater, pipes become clogged with residue, decreasing pipe capacity and at times completely backing up oncoming water flows. These events lead to costly cleaning and repair bills
and, depending on the circumstances, potential fire hazard. The Commission recommends pouring left over grease into a container, freezing the liquid and then disposing of it in the trash.
REMOVAL OF A METER CLOSES THE
BILLABLE ACCOUNT, INCURRING
NO FURTHUR CHARGES AND/OR
BASIC FACILITY FEES.
REINSTALLATION OF OLD METERS
AND INSTALLATION OF NEW
METERS MAY TAKE UP TO THREE
WEEKS TO INSTALL.
IOPWSC DISCONNECT NOTICE
Featured above, CWS’ newly built pylon structure encompassing the leak at
Fort Johnson. Once complete, mechanical repair joints (shown below) will
be lowered in by crane to fit and protect the newly repaired pipe.
NEW GENERAL MANAGER?!
It’s true! As of August 2014, the Commission has been most fortunate to welcome Kristen Champagne, P.E., as the Commission’s
new General Manager. An experienced civil engineer, having
graduated from Clemson University, Kristen has over eighteen
years of experience in the water and wastewater industry. For the
past twelve years she has worked with several local government
water systems and is excited about being a part of the Commission.
(Not to be confused with this.)
THE COMMISSION’S METER
REMOVAL POLICY STATES THAT
REMOVAL OF A RESIDENTIAL AND/
OR IRRIGATION METER INCURS A
$250.00 METER REMOVAL FEE TO BE
PAID BY THE PROPERTY OWNER.
ALL APPLICABLE FEES APPLY TO
THE REINSTALLATION OF METERS
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
ADDITIONAL IMPACT FEES AND
NEW CUSTOMER FEE(S).
S. marcescens forming pink rings around a drain.
Bath towels, mop heads, etc.
While we’re not entirely sure nor do we fathom how large home goods such as towels, bathmats, wash clothes, etc., make their way into our wastewater systems we
imagine they travel through sewer systems and powerful toilets, like those found in
hotels and commercial spaces. While we struggle in our logic as to why these items
are expelled the way they are we highly suggest alternative and more appropriate
means of getting rid of unwanted and/or used items in the home and commercial
space - aka the trash can. While our systems are very efficient and able to stand up to
all kinds of pressures, overexerting our systems with trash can lead to costly consequences which in the end if it doesn’t hurt our systems it definitely compounds problems in the home and commercial space. Just remember, NEVER USE YOUR
TOILET AS A TRASH CAN.
Before the Commission was formed in the
early 90s, potable water on the Isle of Palms
had a very distinct and, at times, undesirable
taste and texture. Once the Commission
erected the Island’s reverse osmosis (R/O)
plant in 1993, water quality and taste improved substantially. Yet to support local
consumption the Commission had to include
blended well water for a consistent water
supply. Finally, in 1996 Charleston CPW,
now Charleston Water Systems (CWS),
drilled water lines under Charleston Harbor
providing Sullivan’s Island and the Isle of
Palms with ample surface water. This additional supply cut out the need for mixed well
water, allowing the Commission to have
those water resources available when needed
but not vital to the day to day supply.
Depending on peak and seasonal usage, the
Commission will purchase 500,000 to 1.5
million gallons per day from CWS.
Given the circumstances that arose August
14th of this year, imagine having those resources shut off. Now picture having to sustain not only the Isle of Palms but the Town
of Sullivan’s Island with water resources.
Suddenly having that additional well water as
a vital, safe, and necessary resource for five
days doesn’t seem so bad.
While CWS continued to repair and eventually restore water services to both islands,
IOPWSC blended its own R/O water (1.2
million gallons daily) with readily available
and safe to drink Island well water. This
supply allowed for residential, commercial,
and emergency personnel to have plenty of
ample water for their day to day activities
without a shortage or emergency supplies
having to be brought in.
In short, IOPWSC greatly appreciates the
patience that our customers had during that
line break. While the Commission does not
foresee any further disruption in service from
CWS, just know that the Commission is
prepared for any future events.
IOPWSC METER REMOVAL POLICY
WATER AND SEWER BILLS ARE DUE
UPON RECEIPT. IF NOT PAID BY
THE DUE DATE, BALANCES
GREATER THAN $20.00 WILL BE
ASSESSED A $10.00 LATE FEE.
THE ONLY NOTICE YOU
RECEIVE BEFORE WATER SERVICE
IS TERMINATED WILL BE ON THE
FOLLOWING MONTH’S BILL.
IF THE PAST DUE PAYMENT IS NOT
RECEIVED BY THE SPECIFIED DATE
SERVICES WILL BE TERMINATED.
A $50.00 DISCONNECT FEE AND PAST
DUE CHARGES WILL BE PAID
BEFORE SERVICES ARE RESTORED.
IF SERVICE IS TERMINATED, A
DISCONNECT NOTICE WILL BE
HUNG ON THE DOOR OR MAILED
TO A BILLABLE ADDRESS.
SERVICES CAN ONLY BE RESTORED
DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS
MONDAY-FRIDAY, 8:00 AM TO 5:00 PM
ADDITIONAL SERVICES POLICY
THE COMMISSION PROVIDES ADDITIONAL SERVICES AT THE CUSTOMER’S EXPENSE. EXPENSES INCURRED ARE ASSESSED AT THE
PREVAILING RATE OF LABOR,
EQUIPMENT, AND MATERIALS. IF
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING
SERVICES OFFERED PLEASE CONTACT THE COMMISSION OFFICE.