SOUTH ORANGE — The South Orange administration updated water-quality test results online at www.southorange.org on July 30 amid ongoing concern regarding the safety of local water.
South Orange receives its water from the East Orange Water Commission, which in 2012 saw two executives — former EOWC Assistant Executive Director William Mowell and former EOWC Executive Director Harry Mansmann — indicted for falsifying water-test results. As previously reported in the News-Record, Mowell pleaded guilty July 25 to a charge of second-degree conspiracy before Essex County Superior Court Judge Carolyn Wright; Mowell had been indicted Feb. 12, 2013, along with Mansmann, who is now deceased.
According to New Jersey Attorney General John Hoffman, Mowell pleaded guilty to a charge that he conspired to engage in a pattern of official misconduct, tamper with public records, and violate both the New Jersey Safe Drinking Water Act and the New Jersey Water Pollution Control Act. Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend that Mowell be sentenced to three years in state prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 7.
Due to ongoing concerns about EOWC testing, the village began conducting its own tests of South Orange water in February 2012. Both the EOWC and the village are testing for tetrachloroethylene, a volatile organic compound.
Based on the June and July 2014 EOWC and South Orange test results, which are posted on the South Orange website, the local drinking water is safe. The announcement reads: “Currently, the levels detected do not rise to the level of an NJDEP violation, but, as can be seen, the levels are high enough to warrant diligent monitoring. Please be assured that in the event there are ever results which would cause health concerns, the Village will immediately notify all affected water customers.”
According to the NJDEP, the running annual average of tetrachloroethylene must not exceed its maximum-concentration limit of 1 microgram per liter, equivalent to 1 part per billion. Due to NJDEP rounding, any reading below 1.5 micrograms per liter is deemed acceptable.
The NJDEP found a 2011 violation of its allowable concentration when tests conducted by the EOWC showed a running, annual average of 1.54 micrograms per liter of tetrachloroethylene.
In October 2013, EOWC testing from the previous month showed a tetrachloroethylene level exceeding NJDEP standards. To remedy this, the EOWC opened interconnections with the New Jersey American Water and city of Newark water systems to minimize the flow of water from the EOWC well field. While the EOWC no longer had an interconnection open with New Jersey American Water, is does have a state-approved contract with Newark to purchase water.
The EOWC conducts its tests, according to the village website, at a finishing plant at the Millburn Pump Station.
Tests conducted by the EOWC on June 9 show 0.88 micrograms per liter of tetrachloroethylene; on June 10 show 0.8 and 0.87; on June 11 show 0.97; on June 17 show 1.03; on June 19 show 1.17; on June 20 show 1.18; on June 24 show 1.13; on June 30 show 0.98; on July 10 show 0.97; and on July 15 show 0.99.
Tests conducted by the village on June 5 show 0.86 micrograms per liter of tetrachloroethylene; on June 23 show 1.02; on July 7 show 0.68; and on July 21 show 0.57.
The village will hold a public meeting Monday,Sept. 15, at 7:30 p.m. on the main stage at the South Orange Performing Arts Center, 1 SOPAC Way, for the purpose of providing a public update on the status of the village’s efforts to identify an alternative water supply source to be implemented upon the cessation of the EOWC contract, according to the village website.