ROCKFORD, IOWA – As discolored water flows from faucets into cups to be drank, cooked and bathed in, the citizens of this Northern Iowa town are being told the problem is being handled by the government.
On Friday afternoon, January 24, Mayor Scott Johnson of Rockford posted the following social media message to alleviate rising consternation in the community about the on-going water issue:
Important Notice to Citizens Regarding Water Issues
I hope this message finds you well. As the Mayor of our proud small town, I wish to address the recent water issues that have been affecting many of you. We understand the inconvenience and concern that frozen water mains, leaks, and discolored water have caused, and I want to assure you that we are taking immediate and comprehensive actions to remedy the situation.
Current Situation Due to the extreme cold weather, lack of snow cover, our town’s water mains have experienced freezing, which has led to leaks and consequently led to discolored water for many households. Leaks like these are difficult to find, as water travels the path of least resistance and are rarely found where the water surfaces. The leaks have more than doubled the volume of water pumping through our system, resulting in an internal flushing without an escape for the discolored water. Leaving the water in the lines and flowing to homes. This is an issue that we take very seriously, as it impacts the daily lives and well-being of our community.
Actions Being Taken To address these issues, the town has implemented the following measures:
1. Find and fix all water main leaks We have identified 4 water main leaks, have repaired 3 of those and will repair the remaining leak in the mains as quickly as possible.
2. Flush hydrants After the leaks are repaired, we will flush hydrants to help remove the discolored water from the system. The weather may cause delays for this process, but we will flush as soon as possible. We hope to have the water cleared up in the next week or two, depending on the weather, and no more leaks being found.
3. Preventative Measures While there is no way to eliminate water main leaks, we will take advantage of this problem/opportunity to evaluate our water mains, hydrants, flushing processes, equipment and leak detection techniques to limit future occurrences as much as possible. We will also review and upgrade other infrastructures to better withstand extreme weather conditions. We will be looking into installing additional flush valves to assist in reducing the sizes of impacted areas in the future.
What You Can Do While we work to resolve these issues, we ask for your cooperation and patience. Please report any leaks, abnormally low pressure or severely discolored water to our town’s public works staff immediately (Dan Paulus: 641-756-3644), (City Hall: 641-756-3718) or (Mayor Scott Johnson: 641-430-6217). We deeply appreciate your understanding, patience and cooperation as we work to resolve these water issues. Our town is resilient, and we have capable staff that will overcome this challenge.
Thank you for your patience and support.
Sincerely, Scott Johnson Mayor of Rockford
After the social media post, one woman spouted off, “Is this perhaps the reason our bills have been so HIGH??”