By Cathy Higgins
BAY MINETTE, Ala. — North Baldwin Utilities had one National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System violation in November. But not due to operational procedures.
During NBU’s December meeting last week, General Manager Jason Padgett explained that the organization had a violation at its Harry Still Sr. Wastewater Treatment Plant in Rabun.
“That was due to minor testing we do,” he told the board. “Some we do in-house, and some we contract out.”
Padgett explained that following the violation, the site was retested and found clean.
The violation occurred when the amount of phosphorus in treated water was incorrectly recorded.
“It was marked in one place in one sample and wasn’t marked in the other,” Padgett said.
On that same site, Padgett reported that improvement plans are under way, thanks to funding from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. He explained that the project went up for bid on Dec. 8 and came in under budget.
“But we’re still pending review from the state,” the general manager said. “So we have not awarded that.”
In additional business, the board:
· Approved a payables report of $806,738.34.
· Heard Padgett give a current sales-summary report of $548,379.24 for November.
· Heard Padgett report that testing of the Rabun Well and Westside treatment plants resulted in no permit violations.
