The Borough has recently been made aware of several complaints about brown and black water made through the news media and social media. We want to assure our residents that the Oxford Borough water system meets all water quality standards and regulations, including the limits for chlorine, manganese and iron.
Chlorine is used for disinfection, which is essential in protecting a water system against bacteriological contamination. In addition to continuously monitoring chlorine at the Borough’s treatment plant, chlorine is monitored at least weekly in the distribution system.
Instances of discolored water are often associated with the presence of manganese or iron, naturally occurring elements in ground water. Both are regulated as secondary contaminants because they pose no health risks. The Borough is only required to monitor levels quarterly at the treatment plant, but the Borough goes beyond this and monitors manganese and iron levels in our distribution system at least monthly.
Depending on where you live in the Borough, a sudden increase in water flow may cause a temporary discoloration of the water. This includes when the Borough completes semi-annual hydrant flushing as part of the Borough’s general maintenance of the water distribution system. The flushing acts to ensure there is adequate water flow in the system, and to improve the aesthetic quality of the water by clearing iron and other mineral deposits from the water mains that accumulate over time.
We highly encourage residents to contact the Borough with questions or concerns about the Borough’s water system or any other Borough services. The Borough Manager and staff will meet with you, listen and do all we can to address your concerns. Residents can also bring concerns directly to your elected officials. Borough Council meets on the first and third Monday of each month at Borough Hall at 7:00 pm. The meetings are open to the public and residents can be added to the agenda.
While the Borough meets all current water quality standards and regulations, to be a proactive and responsible water supplier, the Borough is pursuing all options for maintaining and improving its infrastructure while minimizing the financial impact to its ratepayers. Several projects, including water meter, water main, and treatment upgrades are in various stages of planning, funding, and execution. This year we completed a 10-year Capital Improvement Plan and just started a grant-funded, system-wide water meter upgrade project. The new water meters will make it easier for the Borough to address concerns and will put more information into the hands of residents.
An estimated $2.7M expansion to the water plant has been in development for the last few years and the initial feasibility study is complete. The project will expand the Borough’s filtration capabilities, including improving the treatment methods for addressing iron and manganese. Over the next several months, we will be working through final design and permitting for this project. To date, $500,000 of grant funding has been secured for the project and Borough staff recently met with PENNVEST to discuss other funding sources, including low-interest financing.
Oxford Borough’s Annual Drinking Water Quality Reports are available on the Borough website. These reports confirm that the Borough is in compliance with all requirements and regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. There is also information on the website regarding hydrant flushing and the Borough’s Capital Improvement Plan for our water system. Visit: Oxford Water
