Summaries of Meetings

October 19 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting

During this meeting, the discussions focused on the results of a September survey of Hopewell customers, an update on algae/operations for summer 2011, results of the plant trial using advanced oxidation to treat for taste and odor-causing compounds, update on state and regional environmental solutions, and a timeline and potential rate impact for the possible implementation of an engineering solution to eliminate taste and odor-causing compounds. Stakeholders completed a questionnaire in which they were asked for their opinions about the next steps Virginia American Water should take. Prior to the meeting, the stakeholders toured the recently expanded treatment plant and saw the plant trial.

Meeting summary

Presentation

(L) Hopewell Plant Manager Doug Woodhouse explains the plant trial using advanced oxidation with ultraviolet light and hydrogen peroxide to remove taste and odor-causing compounds.

(R) Water Quality Manager Christian Volk describes how the plant trial study experiments have shown that advanced oxidation with ultraviolet light and hydrogen peroxide removes taste and odor-causing compounds, even at high levels.

June 7 Hopewell City Council Meeting

Virginia American Water Operations Manager Douglas Woodhouse spoke to City Council about operational solutions that will be implemented if the taste and odor problem recurs; longer-term environmental solutions where everyone has a role to play; engineering solutions, including a plant trial that will occur in summer 2011; and the rate impact any engineering solution would have.

Presentation by Douglas Woodhouse, VAW Operations Manager

April 28 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting

At this meeting, the discussion focused on solutions to the taste and odor issue: operational solutions that Virginia American Water is prepared to implement if the problem recurs; longer-term environmental solutions where everyone has a role to play; engineering solutions, including a plant trial that will occur in summer 2011; and the rate impact any engineering solutions would have.

Meeting Summary
Presentation by William Walsh, President, Virginia American Water
Presentation by Michael Youshock, PE, Engineering Manager, Virginia American Water

March 31 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting

The focus of the March 31 meeting was watershed and source water issues, including toxic algae, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulations, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination (NPDES) on the Appomattox River, flow by at Lake Chesdin, and proposed WIP and chlorophyll standards.

Presentation by William Walsh, President, Virginia American Water
Presentation by Dr. Harold Marshall, Morgan Professor Emeritus and Eminent Scholar, Old Dominion University
Presentation by Dr. Ellen Gilinsky, Director, Water Division, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

February 25 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting

The following presentations made at the February 24, 2011, Stakeholder Advisory Group meeting describe the water treatment process, additional treatment methods Virginia American Water used during summer 2010, the water regulatory and testing process, and how taste and odor in drinking water are monitored and tested.

Presentation by Dr. Christian Volk, Water Quality Manager, Virginia American Water
Presentation by Melissa Billman, Manager, Water Quality Lab and Compliance, Fairfax Water Authority
Presentation by Dr. Andrea Dietrich, Professor, Virginia Tech

January 27 Community Meeting

The following presentation made on January 27, 2011 describes the causes of the taste and odor in Hopewell's drinking water in summer 2010 and what Virginia American Water is doing to explore solutions to the problem.

Hopewell Community Presentation