黑料福利社

The next time that Central Washington University graduate student Abe Nelson and Professor Carey Gazis hold a meeting in Mabton, they're hoping to have some helpful information for residents. The town of just under 2,000 people has endured poor water quality for as long as many can remember, and their study aims to get to the root of the problem.聽

Many residents say they do not drink the water that comes from their taps due to off-putting smells, tastes and discoloration. That could be due to a number of issues, stemming from either or both the municipal water pipes聽or the groundwater itself, Nelson said in his presentation.

The problems largely involve high levels of iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide, but not high enough to pose a human health hazard by state Department of Health guidelines, according to city officials last year. The testing will also look for nitrates. High levels of nitrates pose health risks, especially to pregnant women and infants, according to health officials.

The study will be Nelson's graduate study for his master's degree in hydrogeology.

"The thing that excites me the most about the project, is this isn't just science for the sake of science. There's a big possibility that this is going to help people," he said.聽

A small group came to hear about the planned study at Mabton Junior Senior High School on May 14.

The first phase of the study will test groundwater well sites in an attempt to map out how water moves underneath the ground, which should help determine areas with better water quality so the city can drill new wells there.聽

"We've been flying blind," Mabton City Council member Ruben Olivarez lamented.聽聽

The second phase of the study will require homeowners in the Mabton municipal water system to volunteer to have their taps tested to determine problem spots in the system. It might be enormously expensive to replace the whole system, but improvements could be made by making small replacements where quality is the worst, Nelson said.聽

The study is being funded by a $150,000 Environmental Protection Agency grant that was awarded to Friends of Toppenish Creek.聽Empowering Latina Leadership and Action (ELLA) has been assisting in public outreach.聽

Requests for samples

For the study to work, Nelson needs volunteers.聽

For the first phase of the study, he will need Mabton-area property owners to consent to having their well water tested.聽For the second phase, he will need people on city water to have their tap water tested.聽

He hopes to have this sampling wrapped up this summer, and will begin in mid-June. He will knock on doors if not enough people reach out beforehand.

Interested residents can reach out to Nelson directly via his email at abe.nelson@cwu.edu. 

City's efforts

The city of Mabton has had a few ongoing projects aimed at improving water quality. The last of three test wells is currently being drilled at the city's cemetery, said Jamin Ankney, a civil engineer for Gray & Osborne. It has been difficult for the city to find suitable properties for the wells.聽

Two studies were funded last year. One was on whether the city's reservoir should have mixers installed to balance out the water's temperature and chlorine mixture. Initially tests showed that mixers might not be necessary, but they will test again in the summer to make sure, Ankney said.聽

The second study focused on whether a small water treatment plant would help the city's water quality. A small treatment plant on a trailer was tested and seemed to be effective at removing iron and manganese from the city's water, he said.聽

"The real question would be cost," Ankney said. "That's a financial decision the city would have to make."聽

Reports on the feasibility and costs of the test wells and two projects will be delivered to the council this summer, Ankney said.聽

This article was updated with information about the city's recent water projects.