MARCO ISLAND — The City of Marco Island's water supply is safe, Jeff Poteet began. That said, Poteet, general manager of the water and sewer department for the city, detailed how the city is technically in violation of Florida Administrative Code (FAC) requirements for water quality monitoring.
As a result, city water customers will be receiving a notice in their monthly bills, as required by the code. With the utility system bills going out on a staggered basis, some have already been sent, and some will go out in the next billing cycle.
"We take monthly samples throughout the island," said Poteet. "During the month of May, utility sampling technicians collected 44 bacteriological samples" at random points throughout the city's system of water mains. One sample, collected of May 23 on Banyan Court, failed and tested positive for total coliform – bacteria – when the water was given the optimum conditions for the micro-organisms to grow, in a procedure called a "colony count."
In Regulation 62-550, the FAC requires three additional samples to be drawn within 24 hours in this situation, said Poteet, and "staff did not collect an upstream and downstream sample within the 24-hour timeframe." When the samples were collected, they passed, but the failure to re-check within 24 hours meant the violation must be reported to the Florida DEP, as well as notifying the utility's customers by two methods within 30 days. In addition to the notices in the utility bills, the department will post notices in the newspaper, said Poteet. He also sent an email to the city council and city manager, laying out the violation and the steps his department had taken to correct it.
"The integrity of our system is intact. The public health and welfare of our customers is staff's highest priority," said Poteet. "New measures have been implemented to ensure our system meets all rules and regulations as required."
Marco Island Code Compliance Board
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 7
happy34145 writes:
I dont trust our drinking water and never have. The system is so old and thats what needed to be fixed not the waste water system. Instead our drinking water treatment plant is old and produces water so bad that it eats through our water pipes in our homes - just think of what its doing to our bodies. I hate even using it to shower with and I never ever drink it, feed it to my pets or cook with it. And now that they have drained everyone dry to pay for the un necessary waste water treatment plant they can't now ask for money to fix what really needs to be fixed - our drinking water treatment plant. Small town politicians making really bad decisions for the community.
2themoon writes:
The feds need to come here and check out the water on Marco. Its deplorable! the state DEP is in bed with the Marco mafia, just imagine how bad things must really be for the Florida DEP to write a violation against Marco utilities. We are all being swindled. Happy34145 is absolutely correct in saying that our water system is faulty . Our Marco utility bills have skyrocketed in the last 2 years and i am a condo ownner who was told to not worry only the Marco homeowners would foot the bill for the new STRP system..Its all smoke and mirrors and I hope a bunch of these crooks end up in the slammer!
1Paradiselost writes:
Recently one of my neighbor had some pool work done. When they refilled the pool with city tap water, the water was green in color! After 2 days and 6 gallons of chlorine the water cleared.
The home owner was extremely alarmed buy how bad the water clarity was.
So I went home and filled the tub. Even in that short depth you could see the green tint.
People of Marco Island, we need to sell the water company, so the state can regulate the charges and water quality. You see cities that own water companies are under no rate and control system and can charge what they like without oversight.
And who has to pay, that's right you! $78.00 a month before you drink a drop or flush your toilet is highway robbery!
I don't need to name those responsible do I?
RayPray writes:
"Even in that short depth you could see the green tint."
Water here is just great!
It is almost organic.
Isn't organic the big fad in comestibles today?
The motto for Marco utilities should be updateg to: 'What doesn't kill you makes you strong!'
blogsmog writes:
My dog was having major digestive and intestinal problems last couple years. I figured since I filtered the Marco tap water and gave it to him it was ok....WRONG! 6 mos. ago I started giving him bottled water and he is like new dog! Even filtered the Marco water supply is dangerous. Please give your pets bottled water and not filtered Marco junk.
happyhorowitz34145 writes:
.
On another note, Who purchased and is taking over Marco Island Cable on Aug.1 ???????
2themoon writes:
Who?
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