DENMARK – Issues with the Denmark municipal water system was again front and center during the town council’s August meeting Monday night as four water customers complained about water “the color of weak coffee.”

One Maple Avenue woman brought in a bottle of strong tea-colored water she said came from her tap during the past month. The woman was upset about having to pay for discolored water, saying the water had turned all her work uniforms a light brown color in the wash.

Daniel Norton, the new Denmark public works director, said he found records since he took over two weeks ago that indicate the municipal water system has not been properly flushed in the last three-and-a-half years. However, he said his department is now in the process of flushing the system, beginning with the fire hydrants. He said the entire process “will take time.”

Norton told the residents the reason for their discolored water is they live on what are known as “dead ends” in the water system. In these areas, he said, sediments build up primarily because of the cast iron pipes that make up virtually all of the water delivery system in Denmark. At Town Administrator Heyward Robinson’s request, Norton will follow up with each of the residents concerning their water issues.

Councilman Gerald Wright questioned the residents as to when the discolored water appeared, saying he wanted to make certain the problems were not appearing during the times the system flushing and corrective actions by the Public Works Department were taking place. Wright said council will monitor the entire situation more closely.

Norton also reported the department has upgraded to a new wastewater treatment system that will eventually help replace the troublesome chlorinators with which the town has recently had safety problems.

“What we had were chlorinators that we shut down from our Booker and Legare stations,” Norton said. “This new system is more up to date than the 30-year-old system we had previously. We are still using chlorine, but this system is a whole lot safer and it’s a lot easier to use. They can be rebuilt easily if necessary and if we don’t have that many leaks, we can cut everything off.”

He added, “This new system saved the town about $25,000 over the other system we were considering, so that when we can get the funds several years down the line, we can change out and do away with using chlorine for wastewater treatment.”

Robinson said a notice will be sent out in water bills to customers urging them not to pour grease, fats, oils and food scraps down their drains because the result is backups in the sewage system.

One resident said leaks on Locust Street have been going on for a month in the vicinity of his mother’s house and asked when he could expect resolution of the situation. Robinson said more water pipe leaks than usual have occurred on Locust Street. He said officials are considering replacing the three-quarter-inch line used in that area with a two-inch water line for which specifications are now being developed. Fourteen water repairs have recently been handled around the entire Denmark water system, he said.

In other business:



* It was reported that total expenditures from the general fund during July were $73,920.93. The water and sewer fund spent $63,454.69 during the same period, it was noted.

* Robinson reported that the annual audit of the town’s last fiscal year began on Monday.

* Council was informed that construction of the canopy at the Denmark Depot is under way.

* Denmark Fire Chief Johnny Sandifer said the number of fire department members has increased in the last two months, with six new cadets undergoing training. He asked that the department be allowed to take bids on a 1974 pumper by September after the other equipment is removed.

* Police chief Leroy Grimes held up a BB gun that closely resembled a military-style assault rifle, saying it had been procured by one of his officers at a Columbia flea market. Grimes warned parents about the possible consequences if such a device were to be displayed in any situation involving police.

* Mayor Carrie Simmons said a new Main Street business, owned by Tony McClary, will open this Saturday at 11 a.m. Town officials will be on hand for the grand opening.

T&D Correspondent Phil Sarata can be reached by e-mail at pmhsarata@aol.com.

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