ALERTS

DWSC Member Update

DWSC members,

We want to share an important update regarding recent staffing changes at DeBerry Water Supply Corporation, as well as the status of our water system.

This past weekend, Derek Goyne—an additional water operator and our meter reader—was involved in an accident on Hwy 79 while reading meters. Derek also works a full-time job and serves as an operator for Waskom Rural Water, which often required him to read meters for DeBerry during hours when Hwy 79 traffic is less safe. This accident brought those safety concerns to the forefront, and as a result, Derek has made the difficult decision to step away from reading meters for DWSC.

In addition, Debbie Goyne—our longtime and much-loved dispatcher—will also be stepping away from assisting DeBerry Water. Debbie has been fielding more than 150 calls each month for very little compensation, all while managing significant responsibilities at Waskom Rural Water. With the continued demand, she has chosen to step back.

Derek and Debbie were instrumental in helping DeBerry Water rebuild during some of our most challenging times. We are incredibly grateful for their dedication, their professionalism, and the friendship built between our systems, one that will continue for years to come.

Operational changes moving forward:

• Meter reading will temporarily be handled by our other operators in the area. 
• We are still working on a long-term phone solution. In the meantime, calls will be shared among volunteer Board Members.
• If your call is not answered, please leave a message. All non-emergency calls will be returned within 24 hours. All Board Members have full-time jobs and will not be able to answer every call that comes in.
• When possible, please use the email or “Contact Us” option on our website.
• Please do not contact operators directly for billing or service questions if your call is not answered through DWSC. If this happens we will be charged for additional time and resources provided by them. They

Debbie provided an extraordinary level of service, not because of pay, but because of who she is. While we cannot continue that same level of availability during this transition, we ask for your patience and understanding as we adjust.

Water System Update

We also want to address the current water situation. While many members have noticed improvement, we want to be clear that we are still in a very delicate position. The recent improvement is the result of a careful balance that we do not expect to be able to maintain long-term.

Additional water samples taken Friday confirmed that our best-producing well is also the source of the water quality issues. That well will need to be pulled so it can be further investigated. To do this, we are moving as quickly as possible—with the help of C. Miller Drilling—to bring our other wells back online so we can safely take Well #3 offline and assess the damage.

We also have another water quality specialist scheduled to be on-site Thursday to take additional samples as we work toward a plan to address the imbalances in water quality coming from the wells.

We appreciate your patience as we work urgently toward a short-term solution, while continuing to pursue funding for long-term infrastructure solutions.

Helpful reminders for members experiencing water quality issues:

• Please check hot and cold water separately.
• If the hot water is discolored but the cold water is clear, there is likely buildup in your hot water heater, and it should be flushed.
• If you choose to flush your lines, please use an outside faucet closest to your home so buildup is not pulled through interior plumbing.

We know this has been frustrating, and we want you to know we are working as quickly and responsibly as possible to stabilize the system. We will continue to keep members informed as updates are available.

DeBerry Water Supply Corporation

 

Water Issues

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