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The Clarksburg Water Board will begin adding phosphoric acid into the water supply on Tuesday.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WV News) — Utility providers in Harrison County and surrounding areas that purchase water from the Clarksburg Water Board are alerting customers to the presence of phosphoric acid in water coming into homes and businesses.
The compound was added as a corrosion-control measure to prevent lead from leaching into water consumed by the public.
The Clarksburg Water Board began adding phosphate to its water supply on Dec. 13.
Because the Water Board supplies its water to a majority of Harrison County’s public service districts and municipal utilities for resale to their own customers, the phosphoric acid is now in water pipes throughout the area.
The Clarksburg Water Board will begin adding phosphoric acid into the water supply on Tuesday.
“I think the most important thing we want to stress is the fact that Clarksburg is a regional water provider, and we wanted to update their notification that our systems are also providing this to our customer. It’s present in our water lines, as well,” said Mary Seymour, general manager of the Summit Park Public Service District, on behalf of the 14 utility providers that purchase water from the Clarksburg Water Board.
The corrosion control was mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state Bureau for Public Health under the Water Board’s lead line Corrective Action Plan.
Corrosion is a common issue in water pipes. If the pipes contain lead, that lead can leach out into the water within the pipes. Lead water pipes have been banned for decades, but lead can still be found in pipes installed prior to 1987.
Corrosion control is achieved by creating “scale” — a coating of minerals — inside water lines, preventing elements from the pipe, including lead, from getting into the water.
The phosphoric acid will break down into hydrogen and phosphate in the water.
The hydrogen will become part of the water, but the phosphate will stick to the walls of pipes to achieve this “scale,” the Water Board previously reported.
This effect will not be limited to the Clarksburg system. The phosphate will also coat the inside of water lines in systems that purchase Clarksburg water, and the customer service lines and household plumbing of all customers who receive the water, according to Seymour.
Fairmont and Morgantown have used forms of phosphate for corrosion control in their water systems for years, she said.
Affected water utilities will be conducting their own testing as mandated by the state Department of Health and Human Services to ensure phosphate is at appropriate levels throughout each system, she said.
Customers affected by the new water treatment measures will receive a letter notification in the coming weeks. The health department is requiring certification that all letters have been sent by Jan. 31, according to Seymour.
The affected entities and associated PWSID numbers of affected areas are the city of Bridgeport, 3301703; Enlarged Hepzibah PSD, 3011709; Sun Valley PSD, 3301726; East View PSD, 3301736 and 3301737; town of Nutter Fort, 3301717; Summit Park PSD, 3301725; Tri-County Water Association, 3301742; city of Stonewood, 3301724; Greater Harrison PSD in Quiet Dell, Valley of Good Hope, Lost Creek and Mt. Clare, 3301719, 3301727 and 3301713; town of Anmoore, 3301701; city of Salem, 3301720; Short Line PSD, 3301722; city of Shinnston in the Saltwell Road area, 3301741; and the town of West Milford; 3301728.
Senior staff Writer JoAnn Snoderly can be reached at 304-626-1445, by email at jsnoderly@theet.com or on Twitter at @JoAnnSnoderly.
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