Social Entrepreneur

Residents, businesses, and city leaders in this northwestern Missouri town of more than 1,000 still have no firm date on when theyll be able to safely drink tap water without boiling it.The citys water customers including schools, businesses, and homes have been under a boil order from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for nearly two months due to high turbidity levels.Turbidity is a measure of water clarity. State leaders declared Maysvilles water turbidity too high after an inspection in August.City leaders have tried to fix the problem, believing they had a solution for about a week until the turbidity levels climbed again.We just need help, Maysville resident Angy Dowell told KMBC 9 Investigates on Wednesday. I mean, seriously. It has just gone on way too long.Dowell is one of 465 water customers asking city officials for answers since the boil order went into effect on Aug. 28.She wants more frequent information and updates from city officials, home bottled water deliveries, and a way to receive credits on her account until the issue is resolved. City officials have said credits on bills are hard to implement due to U.S. Department of Agriculture funding the city has in place for its water supply system.What should we be doing as a community? Dowell said. If I need to hold your hand and walk you down the line, I dont know enough about the water system or what the remedy is to fix it.KMBC 9 Investigates asked Maysville water and wastewater manager Michele Allwood about a completion date. She couldnt predict one.Allwood has worked with the Maysville City Council, administrator, and mayor to find solutions.City East Ward Alderman Clint Sollars said all city leaders should be held accountable until a fix is in place.We’re doing our best to fix it, and it ultimately falls back on us to tap into every resource we can to have it fixed as soon as we can, Sollars said.Allwood has brought in multiple resources to the citys aging water plant, including Missouri American Water, the Missouri Rural Water Association, and utility services to clean the water plants clear well.Turbidity levels are acceptable after water comes out of filters at the plant, Allwood said.However, turbidity levels are still too high when water encounters chlorine at the clear well underneath the plant, she said.Allwood noted that there may be high levels of manganese or iron in the water coming from Willowbrook Lake that react with the chlorine at the citys clear well.She is open to anyone who can help find solutions.If they have an idea, call me and give me the idea, because I’ve tried to reach out to everybody, Allwood said. We are trying, and people are coming in, and we do have people that are working with us to try to improve this situation.Allwood also encouraged Maysville water customers to call City Hall to speak with city leaders about next steps.Scott Honig, environmental section chief for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in the Kansas City region, said the boil order will remain in effect until turbidity levels drop in Maysville.Honig said MoDNR officials have worked with Maysville to find solutions and provide resources. He added that the department has elevated the situation to MoDNRs enforcement group to ensure Maysville is following prescribed guidelines and schedules for a fix.We’ll be in contact with them every week to see where they’re at and what’s going on, Honig said.He also noted that the department has funding available, including grants and loans, for small rural water supplies in need of assistance.The city is hoping for a more permanent water supply, connecting to a supply line from St. Joseph to Cameron by next year. However, the issue is currently tied up in the courts.If you have a tip about this situation, KMBC 9 Investigates needs to know. Email investigates@kmbc.com.