This week on Wonderful Water, join 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck for a conversation with Katie Harwell, laboratory supervisor at OWSA’s water treatment plant on Jones Ferry Road, about OWASA’s latest round of in-depth water testing and the associated annual report card. 

According to Harwell, in the past year OWASA has met or surpassed all expected water quality guidelines and requirements.

“It’s a whole team effort,” said Harwell. “We have three lab analysts and then myself in the lab, and then we have eight plant operators — so we’re all doing testing. The analysts go out to the lakes and sample the water out of our source water before it’s received any treatment. We’re also testing the water, you know, once it’s made its way to the plant, the operators are testing the water continuously 24/7 to make sure that the processes are running smoothly.”

OWASA analysts test for harmful bacteria, as well as any materials minerals or compounds that don’t belong, in order to adjust the treatment process undertaken to ensure OWASA’s continued water quality. OWASA’s testing schedule also falls in line with EPA requests for further data.

“The EPA requires that utilities test for a different suite of compounds every few years, as they’re collecting data to determine if they want to create new regulations,” said Harwell. “And so, we’re happy to participate in that. Some of those results are reported in this last year’s report card that’s coming out to our customers right now.”

While the effects of COVID-19 have been far-reaching, OWASA has remained fully-staffed, with employees working remotely and on-site to make sure service is uninterrupted.

“Just know that there’s a really dedicated team behind the scenes, making sure that when you turn on your water, you don’t really need to think about it. It’s there, it stays and it’s ready to be used,” said Harwell. “We really pride ourselves in all the work that goes into it, and it’s a huge team effort.”

You can listen below for the full conversation between Aaron Keck and Katie Harwell below, and visit the Wonderful Water page here for more interviews and stories about the work OWASA does. 

 

 

Chapel Hill and Carrboro residents use roughly 7 million gallons of water a day, and “Wonderful Water” is a monthly conversation sponsored by the Orange Water and Sewer Authority highlighting its work to keep our community growing and water flowing.

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