Relief on the way for Welsh residents
<p class="p1">WELSH — Residents here may soon see clear water flowing from their taps again.</p><p class="p1">Mayor Carolyn Louviere said Monday the town began treating its water with zinc orthophosphate, a corrosion inhibitor, this weekend.</p><p class="p1">“We installed the system Friday and it started going into the town’s distribution system on Sunday,” Louviere said.</p><p class="p1">The process will, over the course of time, provide a protective coating to the miles of water mains that provide water throughout the town, she said.</p><p class="p1">“We are just hoping it will work,” Louivere said.</p><p class="p1">Chris LeBouef, operator for the town’s water and sewer system, said it will take some time for the zinc orthophosphate to completely work its way through the system and provide the necessary protective coating to prevent further corrosion.</p><p class="p1">“It is coating the pipes which should help the town and residents, particularly those with old galvanized lines, but time will tell,” LeBouef said. “It’s not an overnight fix.”</p><p class="p1">The coating should help eliminate the rust, discoloration and odor problems that have been an ongoing problem for many residents and businesses for several months, he said.</p><p class="p1">“We are all hoping this is going to correct the problem,” town superintendent Wayne Hebert said. “I have faith in Steve (Belshe) and C and L Aqua Professionals, who worked so hard to install this.”</p><p class="p1">The town is pumping about six to 10 gallons of zinc orthophosphate a day, LeBouef said.</p><p class="p1">“This is the least expensive and least construction-wise way to try to get the problem corrected,” he said. “It has worked in other towns, so we hope it will work for us and relieve the brown water problem.”</p><p class="p1">Louviere said funds to implement the process is being provided by a grant the town received as part of the overall upgrade of the town’s water system, which included two new groundwater storage tanks. It will not require any new capital outlay from the town, she said.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>‘It has worked in other towns, so we hope it will work for us and relieve the brown water problem.’</strong>
<p class="p2"><strong>Chris LeBouef</strong>
<p class="p4">Operator for the Town of Welsh’s water and sewer system