THE SOURCE The Source is a quarterly publication of Beaver Water District Summer 2008

Spring Showers Celebrating Four Years Excessive Rain Dumps Tons in Runoff You're reading The Source, a quarterly newsletter from Beaver In March and April, more than 15 inches Water District. First published in of rain fell in the Beaver Lake Watershed. 2004, its purpose is to inform our This led to millions of gallons of runoff con- customers and communities about taining tons of sediment entering Beaver District programs that enhance our Lake. Much of this runoff and sediment mission: To serve our customers in reached Beaver Water District's intake the Benton and Washington County structure near Hickory Creek. area by providing high quality "The sediment load to the plant has drinking water that meets or dramatically increased with all the exceeds all federal and state regula- storms," said Beaver Water District CEO tory requirements in such quanti- Alan D. Fortenberry, P.E. "Even though ties as meets their demands and is we have plenty of water in the lake, the economically priced consistent with challenges of treating poorer quality raw our quality standards. Beaver water are very great." Water District sells water to When it rains so much that Beaver Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Lake is approaching the 1130.0 eleva- and Bentonville. These cities resell tion, then the U.S. Army Corps of to towns and communities through- Engineers responds by opening the out Northwest . If you floodgates. John Kielczewski, White River have questions, comments, or sug- System Engineer for the Corps, explains gestions concerning The Source, it this way: "It rains, and runoff occurs please contact Amy Wilson, from the rainfall which carries all sorts of Director of Public Affairs, at awil- loads and flows into the lake. Then, the [email protected]. lake rises. If the lake is forecasted to rise above 1130.0, we open the gates, which opened Beaver Dam's floodgates a is outflow from the project." record six times -- on March 19-March On March 1, the lake level was at 20, March 31-April 1, April 2-3, April 4-5, 1117 feet. By March 19, the lake had April 10-12, and April 24-April 26. risen 12 feet, up to 1129. The Corps Continued on page 2

Aerial view of Beaver Lake bordered by Highway 12, taken on April 14 by Herb Hawkins of Avoca, a member of the Beaver Water District Board of Directors. The muddiness of the water indicates very high turbidity, which places challenges on drinking water facilities. Page 2

Spring Showers continued from page 1

The Corps recorded record high pool lev- District's raw water intake. On March 5, els and record high discharges in Beaver the raw water at the intake was at 117 Lake during this event, according to NTU and the lake level was at 1121.3 feet. Kielczewski. Additionally, the National From March 19 through April 23, the tur- Weather Service reported a total of 8.84 bidity ranged from 522 to 200 NTU, with a inches of rainfall at XNA during March reading of 445 NTU on April 11.On April and 7.97 inches during April. Beaver 24, the turbidity finally dipped to 177 NTU. Lake rose to a record high elevation of "During this event, we worked one 1,132.2 feet on April 10. storm and one dam release after anoth- Fortenberry said the District's treat- er, and staff get tired. It just wears on ment facilities were designed to treat raw you," Cheevers said. "It takes extra atten- water with a turbidity of up to 300 NTU (a tion to continue to take water samples measurement of the clarity of the water). from various stations on the lake, con- During the recent rainfall events, raw duct jar tests, and make decisions about water turbidity reached a high of 522. The when to adjust aluminum hydroxide feed maximum historical raw water turbidity at rates. Every event is different. Different Beaver Water District's intake was 650 turbidity events can mean different alum NTU in 2004. feed rates. It's the makeup of the sedi- ment. On the front end is the big heavy turbidity.The finer turbidity that stays sus- "I simply have to brag on our pended is what's harder to treat." talented staff, Most people do Cheevers explained that a "jar test" is not understand or appreciate a test that allows operators to add varying the skill and knowledge base alum doses to water that's been sampled from stations on the lake to help deter- that is required to handle events mine how much alum to feed to the water such as the ones we have experi- when it reaches the District's facilities. enced recently. Our staff "During the 2004 event, no one had excelled during these very ever seen so much turbidity, and being so trying times. Their dedication, recent, we were physically and mentally skill, and effort in protecting the more prepared for this event because we'd gone through the 2004 event," Cheevers public's health by producing said. "But the two big differences are we high quality drinking water is had another process to manage (a new to be applauded." - Alan D. solids handling facility), and this event has Fortenberry P.E., CEO, Beaver lasted several months instead of several Water District weeks. Also, some of the water quality parameters were different this time. We had very low alkalinity so we were very "For us, when the Corps opens the close to the brink of the process being able flood gates, the turbidity arrives at the to perform or not. If you have excessive tur- plant faster," Plant Manager Stacy bidity and you run out of alkalinity, it Cheevers said. "So in 2004, it took about becomes a delicate balance. six days for the turbidity to reach the "Raw water alkalinity typically is plant, but during this event it only took around 70 and during this event it got as about a day and half." low as 24. This makes it difficult to per- Before the rains began in March, tur- form coagulation," Cheevers said. bidity was about 3 NTU at Beaver Water Continued on page 3 Page 3

Spring Showers continued from page 2

Coagulation occurs when alum is added challenge, and heavy cost to the plant, is to the water in order to bind particles in disposing of the solids removed from the the water together so they will drop out raw water, Cheevers said. and filter from the water. When alum is "We peaked out with one day truck- added to the raw water the alkalinity ing out about 116 tons of solids to Waste decreases. A low alkalinity means that Management's Tontitown landfill," he maintaining the water pH within a speci- said. "Right now, we are averaging about fied range is very difficult to accomplish. 60 tons a day, so it's tapered off. But "We had a couple of nights here we're not out of the woods yet. I'll be where people didn't sleep because we happy when we're back to normal, which didn't know what would happen. We were is about 20 tons a day of solids and 3 to coming up with ways to boost the alkalin- 5 NTU in the raw water." ity. It may work in a jar, but it may not Cheevers added that on May 19, the work in a plant." raw water was at 29 NTU. It will likely be In addition to bearing the costs of sometime in June before raw water NTU feeding more alum to the water, another is back to normal. Board of Directors Profile Woody Bassett of in a recent interview. "I'm pleased to Fayetteville became a have the opportunity to serve on the member the Beaver Beaver Water District Board and am Water District Board committed to working with others to of Directors on Jan. make good decisions which will benefit 17, when the board the quality of the lake and keep the cost voted to name him to of drinking water affordable for the citi- fill the director's posi- zens of and for tion being vacated by industry. As so many others have said Curtis Shipley of throughout the years, Beaver Lake is Fayetteville. Shipley, who had served our lifeblood and in order for us to con- for 28 years, resigned his position on tinue to grow and prosper in Northwest the board on Dec. 31, 2007. Arkansas, it's essential that we nurture Mr. Bassett is the 21st board mem- and protect this most precious asset." ber to serve the District, which got its Beaver Water District was formed start nearly 50 years ago, when vision- under Arkansas Act 114 of 1957. It is ary community leaders gathered to dis- the oldest regional water district in the cuss the need for a long-term supply of state of Arkansas. The District is gov- clean, safe water for Northwest erned by a six-member elected board Arkansas. With an eye to the future and of directors, with three members from knowledge that a large lake was the best Washington County and three from source of water, these citizens worked to Benton County. Board members serve establish Beaver Lake . six-year terms, staggered by two years "All of us who live in Northwest in each county. The board meets Arkansas have a responsibility to make monthly, on the third Thursday. Mr. sure we take care of Beaver Lake and Bassett represents Washington County. protect our water supply," Bassett said Continued on page 4 Page 4

Board of Directors Profile continued from page 3 The board's tasks include oversee- Board of Directors, and Life Styles ing an annual budget in excess of $20 Board of Directors. Bassett also is million. During monthly meetings, active in Washington County and in board members review operations and Fayetteville on other community proj- conduct business. This includes moni- ects and charitable fundraising groups. toring the production and sales of water He is a member of Central United to the District's four customers, as well Methodist Church. as creating policy and guiding the Beaver Water District was created growth of the organization through var- to pay for the drinking water supply ious stages of expansion costing mil- allocation of the lake. The dam that cre- lions of dollars. ated Beaver Reservoir and the first Mr. Bassett has practiced law for water treatment plant were completed 30 years and is a partner in the Bassett in the mid-1960s. Since that time, the Law Firm LLP in Fayetteville. He District has expanded facilities and attended the University of Arkansas improved to keep up with increased and graduated from the Arkansas Law water demand and stricter drinking School in 1977. He served as a Special water standards. Associate Justice of the Arkansas The District's mission is to serve our Supreme Court on a case in 1996, and customers in the Benton and Washington he received the outstanding lawyer County area by providing high quality award from the Arkansas Bar drinking water that meets or exceeds all Association in 2003. federal and state regulatory requirements Bassett's current areas of service in such quantities as meets their include Bank of Fayetteville Board of demands and is economically priced con- Directors, Washington Regional sistent with our quality standards. Medical Foundation Board, Washington Beaver Water District supplies Regional Medical System and drinking water to more than 250,000 Washington Regional Medical Center people and industries in Fayetteville, Board of Directors, United Way of Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville and Washington County Board of Directors, surrounding areas. For more informa- Fayetteville Community Foundation tion, visit www.bwdh2o.org.

BWD BOARD OF DIRECTORS

David A. Short, President W. Herb Hawkins

Bill Watkins, Vice President Mary Beth Brooks

Chris Weiser, Secretary-Treasurer Woody Bassett

HOW TO REACH US Amy Wilson, Director of Public Affairs [email protected] - www.bwdh2o.org - 479-756-3651 Page 5 Pilot Plant Construction Underway

The construction of a 10-gallons-per- minute pilot water treatment plant will provide Beaver Water District with the ability to experiment with altering treat- ment processes on a small scale. (Ten gallons a minute equates to 14,400 gal- lons per day.) The pilot plant is one component of renovations to the Joe M. Steele Water Treatment Plant, which began in April of 2007. While the Steele plant will put another 40 million-gallon-a-day treatment capacity on line by next April or sooner, the pilot plant's function is to assist the District with doing the best possible job of providing drinking water to its four cus- tomer cities. The pilot plant location is the former chlorine feed and storage dock. The dock has been enclosed and attached to the Steele Plant's Operations Building. Additionally, the slab with pipe trenches has been poured, and roof, bricks, and windows are complete. Sheetrock has been hung and a primer coat has been Beaver Water District's Pilot Plant is under applied to all painted surfaces. The water construction. Photograph by Danny Dearing. supply piping and drains have been installed, and the floor is being prepped "The pilot plant also will expand our for a final seal coat. University of Arkansas research partner- "The pilot plant will allow us to do ships into areas of water treatment," research on a small scale on treatment Lloyd said. "We will be able to leverage options," said Dean Ward, Supervisor of our dollars and expertise with that of the Operations for Beaver Water District, who university's researchers. has been employed by the District since "Since our mission is to serve our 1985. "We'll be able to experiment with customers in the Benton and Washington different treatment options without expos- County area by providing high quality ing the main plant. For example, we could drinking water that meets or exceeds all try different polymers or alum dosages federal and state regulatory requirements during turbidity events." in such quantities as meets their The team overseeing the pilot plant demands and is economically priced construction includes Ward, Mindi consistent with our quality standards, we Crosswhite, Laboratory Supervisor, Bill constantly look for ways to streamline our HagenBurger, Plant Engineer, and Larry processes to eliminate waste and keep Lloyd, Chief Operating Officer. water costs down." Page 6 Zebra Mussels in White River Lakes

into our local environment from another part of the world. Invasive species fre- quently become troublesome because of their lack of natural predators. Zebra mussels are native to the Caspian Sea region of Asia. They were first found in North America during 1988, in Lake Saint Clare near Detroit, Mich. (GLSC Fact Sheet 2000-6). Most likely, they were discharged into the lake with ballast water from an oceangoing ship that had entered the lake. The mussels have found favorable environments in North Zebra Mussel found in . America and are now found throughout Photographs courtesy of Kirk Wright. the Great Lakes Region, in New York, By Robert Morgan Ph.D., P.E. and throughout the Ohio, Mississippi, and On Sept. 13, 2007, Gerald Walsh Arkansas Rivers. It was originally thought and Kirk Wright discovered zebra mus- that the warm water of the south would sels (Dreissena polymorpha) in Bull prevent the spread of mussels southward, Shoals Lake. Shortly thereafter, the but colonies have now been found as far Missouri Department of Conservation south as New Orleans (USGS GLSC Fact announced that the mussels had also Sheet 2000-6). Several species of North been found in Lake Taneycomo. Zebra American fish and birds are known to mussels have been known to live in the feed on zebra mussels Arkansas River for several years, but The spread of zebra mussels is these were the first sightings of the mus- aided by the mussel's unique life history. sels in the White River lake system. After hatching, the mussel enters a larval The appearance of zebra mussels in stage referred to as a veliger. The White River lakes is a concern because veligers are microscopic and free float- of their habit of attaching to any hard sur- ing. Eventually, the veliger develops a face and their ability to reproduce by the foot and starts looking for a place to set- millions, forming dense mats of mussels. tle. Roughly 99 percent of veligers die at The mussels will attach to rocks, aquatic this stage, but since each female can vegetation, boats, docks, water intakes, produce over a million eggs per season, and even native mussels. According to there are plenty veligers left over. Once the Geological Survey settled, the veliger develops a striped (USGS), colonies of mussels up to a foot shell and lives happily for the next three thick and containing over a million mus- to nine years. The mussels can spread sels per square yard have been docu- with the current in their veliger stage; mented in Lake Erie. This tendency to therefore, any body of water downstream form thick mats can be troublesome to from a colony is at risk of infection. water treatment plants because the mat However, they can also spread as adults can actually become thick enough to clog if the surface that they are attached to or reduce the capacity of water intakes. happens to be moved. Humans can unwit- The zebra mussel is an invasive tingly aid the spread of zebra mussels species. That means it was introduced Continued on page 7 Page 7

Zebra Mussels continued from page 6 through transport of veligers in the pull your boat out of the water. livewells of boats or in bait buckets and • Dispose of any left over bait on land through transport of adults attached to before you leave the water. boats moving from lake to lake. Another • Rinse your boat when you get possibility is that the adult is attached to home. vegetation that becomes tangled on the • Dry your boat in the sun for at least boat or trailer. The mussels can live for five days before you launch in a several days out of water. new lake. Because boats frequently are moved from lake to lake in the White River sys- There are many good websites with tem, Beaver Lake has a high likelihood of additional information on zebra mussels. having zebra mussels introduced. A good fact sheet produced by the Whether or not the mussels become USGS on the impact and life history of established in the lake is more uncertain. zebra mussels can be found at: Suitable environmental conditions may or http://www.glsc.usgs.gov/_files/fact- may not be present in the lake. Boaters sheets/20006%20Zebra%20Mussels.pdf. and fisherman can help to prevent the The Missouri Department of spread of the mussels by following the Conservation also has a website that best management practices including: gives prevention techniques at: • Inspect your boat thoroughly before http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/exotic/zebra/. you leave the water, scrape off any Another good source of information is suspected mussels, remove and http://www.protectyourwaters.net/. dispose of any vegetation tangled in the boat or trailer. (Dr. Robert Morgan is Manager of • Drain live wells, bait buckets, motor Environmental Quality for Beaver and bilge water on land when you Water District.)

War Eagle Creek Watershed Maps

On May 10, the Watershed Map made its debut during the second annual War Eagle Appreciation Day. A guided canoe float, trash pickup, music and other educational activities took place at Withrow Springs State Park. About 250 people attended and about 125 participated in the float. The map, a partnership project between Beaver Water District and Audubon Arkansas, is the third in a series showcasing Beaver Lake Watershed and its subwater- sheds. A watershed is an area of land that drains water, sediment, and dissolved mate- rials to a common receiving body or outlet,

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War Eagle Creek continued from page 7 which in this case is Beaver Lake. The showing county boundaries, city plan- map illustrates how activities in the ning areas, roads and highways, creeks watershed impact overall water quality and streams, mountains, and Beaver in Beaver Lake. Beaver Lake is the pri- Lake. The reverse side of the map con- mary source of drinking water for one in tains information about best manage- eight Arkansans. ment practices for landowners, waste- "The main message we want to get water treatment, managing trash and across is that what you do in the subwa- recyclables, the legend of War Eagle, War tershed impacts the quality of raw water in Eagle Creek Watershed history, birds the lake," said Amy Wilson, Director of commonly found in the watershed, and Public Affairs for Beaver Water District. recreation and outdoor opportunities. "Beaver Lake is vital to Northwest "We would like to get the map to Arkansas' quality of life and economy. Its educators, policy makers, business value cannot be overstated. Water is a people, 4-H clubs, scout troops, and any critical commodity for any region and pro- others who are interested," Wilson said. tecting water quality makes economic "Our aim is to increase peoples' knowl- sense. From a drinking water facility edge about water issues so they better standpoint, I can tell you that it costs more understand why taking care of water is to clean up dirty water than it does to be so important." For more information and proactive and protect water at the source." to receive a map in the mail, send an The map illustrates this relationship e-mail with your name and mailing between the land and the water by address to [email protected].

Annual Water Quality Report Published Beaver Water District's Water Quality Report (WQR) for 2007 is now available. The Water Quality Report includes analyses from Beaver Water District and the Arkansas Department of Health. There were no Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) monitoring or compliance viola- tions in 2007. The report is shared with and used by the District's four customer cities to create each city's consumer confidence report, which is mandated by the Environmental Protection This is an example of information from this year's Agency. To download the report. For the full report, visit www.bwdh2o.org. report, visit www.bwdh2o.org.