THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 10, 1995 TAG: 9508100507
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANCIE LATOUR, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
In its latest response to high chloride and sodium in the Northwest River water supply, Chesapeake has started pumping Portsmouth water into more residents' homes.
The move will bring relief from salty tap water to about 4,500 more residents, according to Public Utilities Director Amar Dwarkanath.
The neighborhoods affected are Amberly Townhouses, Brentwood, Brentwood Park, Chesapeake Mobile Home Park, Geneva Forest, Geneva Mobile Home Park, Geneva Shores, Loxley Gardens, Misty Point and Woodland Terrace.
The service will continue until salt levels return to normal, Dwarkanath said.
The Camelot, Cavalier Industrial Park and Lake Forest sections of Deep Creek - some 30,000 residents - already get water from Portsmouth's system, which relies on reservoirs and has no salinity problems. Chesapeake gets 2.5 million gallons per day from Portsmouth.
Increasing the supply of Portsmouth water is one of several attempts by the city to stave off salty water for as many residents as possible. Especially in Great Bridge and Greenbrier, briny water has left many residents cringing at the mere thought of brushing their teeth or making coffee.
Chesapeake's main source of water is the Northwest River. Lack of rainfall and southern winds can cause brackish water from the Currituck Sound to move upstream into the river.
On Wednesday, the chloride level in the water was 579 parts per million. Sodium measured 289 parts per million.
According to federal standards, the salty taste of chlorides becomes objectionable at 250 parts per million. And sodium levels are about 15 times higher than what doctors recommend for patients on sodium-restricted diets.
KEYWORDS: WATER CHESAPEAKE SODIUM CHLORIDE by CNB