THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 4, 1996 TAG: 9601040351
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
Chloride and sodium levels in the city's Northwest River water supply have increased again, nearly doubling in the past week.
The levels remain well below those recorded in the summer, but city officials are reminding residents on sodium-restricted diets to continue drinking noncity water until the problem clears up. Although elevated chloride poses no health threat, it makes the water taste salty.
A lack of rainfall is blamed for the recent spike. Amar Dwarkanath, director of the city's public utilities department, said average daily rainfall in December was more than an inch below normal.
Chloride levels jumped from a low of 280 parts per million on Dec. 26 to a high of 418 parts per million on Wednesday. A reading of 250 parts per million is the federal threshold for salty taste.
The sodium level Wednesday was 209 parts per million. Average sodium levels for other South Hampton Roads cities range from 8 to 12 parts per million.
And unless January provides significant rainfall, chloride and sodium levels will continue to rise, Dwarkanath said.
``If it doesn't rain,'' said Dwarkanath, ``it's going to go up.''
The city's problems began in midsummer when a lack of rainfall caused sodium and chloride levels to increase dramatically in the Northwest River. Wind and a lack of rainfall forced salty water from Currituck Sound into the city's water supply.
About 40 percent of city residents get their water from the Northwest River. About 10 percent more get their water from a combination of the Northwest River and unsalty water reserves.
At one point, the salt content of the water reached 965 parts per million - the highest level in a decade. The salty water forced large numbers of Chesapeake residents to use bottled water or to obtain less-salty water from local fire stations.
In November, Chesapeake voters overwhelmingly approved a water bond referendum that will allow the city to pay for $72.5 million in improvements to the water treatment system. Meanwhile, residents can obtain unsalty water at five local fire stations.
They can also call the city's water-quality hot line at 547-6360 for sodium and chloride readings.
KEYWORDS: GRAPHIC
CHESAPEAKE WATER
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by CNB