Friday, January 01, 2016
2016 Water Issues in Peru Won't Go Away
I have recently become aware of an issue in the Peru Water System that I thought no longer existed.... the dead end residential water delivery systems and of all places in the St John's addition. Personally we were at the end of a water delivery system that dead ended a short distance from our property but the issue was fixed about 15 years ago. Why are there homes still getting rusty water because of this issue? Is there a mandate to fix areas with this problem?
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45 comments:
If your drinking a ugly form of orange soup instead of clear water I would think LaSalle County Health Department on Etna Road in Ottawa would have a interest or would be the professional guideline. The problem with most departments, boards or committees is that they all become internal and only responsible to each other and are of no value until directly contacted and made into public fodder.
When publicly forced it is learned what they are being paid for until than they claim that no information had been brought to them.
In the United States, especially Illinois, there are so many unnecessary levels of paid government employees to process a decision most times those involved have passed or moved away before a final judgement is reached.
Test as a mistake made by Alderman Waldorf he seems to be spending our money wrecklessly with his brother Luskosus
My tap water smells very strongly of chlorine.
There is a reason why we have a WATER STORE in Peru plus several Culligan dispensers in grocery stores. A good place to have a business from something the city will not correct.
We also frequently have an issue with chlorine smells especially in the shower.
Wouldn't you think this would be a topic that should be discussed at a Public Services Meeting? I just read the agenda for their Monday, Jan. 4th meeting and there agenda doesn't really reflect any specific topic or problem that they will be discussing. It just lists an area (i.e. Airport) and the alderman who is in charge (i.e. Lukosis).
When municipal water is properly treated for public consumption there should be no taste or odor of residual chlorine or any other treatment chemical in the finished product for the end user. TEST is over-chlorinating the tratment process and or the distribution system. TEST is over-chlorinating for one or two possible reasons. 1- TEST is negligent and incapable of proper chlorination chemical dosage or, 2-TEST is deliberately spiking the distribution system with disinfection chemicals because of their failure to properly operate the existing water treatment equipment. Since Peru's elected officials have ignored their Oaths of Office to protect the citizens they represent and allowed themselves to become totally dependent upon whatever TEST tells them our mayor and aldermen are both unwilling and incapable of holding TEST accountable. You will never receive an honest account of what is happening with your potable water system in Peru because TEST management and ownership will never admit to any of their failures in the process and the elected officials are clueless to know any different. Unless you trust a barber and a coin-laundry owner to protect the integrity of your family's potable water supply. I know I don't and never will. Peru's elected and appointed officials have absolutely no idea what if anything TEST should or should not be doing for that $3.5 Million contract they were "given". That is what happens when competition and free-market practices are ignored for political purposes as has been the case with this contact for 30 plus years in Peru.
Most times when I take a shower, it smells like I'm in a swimming pool. The other day I drove past the water store and there was a line out to the road of people waiting to get water.
They do not care about water because water is an expense. Water does not generate sales tax revenue. The retail stores in Peru don't really care about water - they only use it to flush the toilets. Therefore, water is of no concern to our City - except maybe freighting. You don't need good water for that either.
10:51 AM
You comment about TEST having a contract with Peru for 30+ years. Would this be better than a 30 and out contractual clause pension for most of those working class who are paying for the TEST contracts?
My water this morning is overwhelmingly chlorine smelling. I can't imagine drinking it!
The City should charge what it actually costs for water. They have been giving it away for to long, letting the Electric Department pay for it. People need to realize that water is not free.
Water is not important unless it is used to fill up a public swimming pool!
What are the details on the fireworks? We only have 182 days until the 4th of July!
What is the Pickelball Schedule this year? Which park will be the host?
10:38, the way my water smells, I'd just need to dig a hole and fill it with my tap water and voila, chlorinated swimming pool!
Anon 10:38 AM
Sooner or later someone had to do it. The only difference this year it arises earlier than other years. Folks I am speaking of the swimming pool, the fireworks and pickleball. After several years of these three being the hot issues of our city I have a belief that they have outlasted themselves and now are being used as a political issue to stir the pot. As for a swimming pool the want of it was voted down by a mail ballot. The need of a new site for the fireworks is being determined to what location would be best and pickleball has been moved a year ago.
Another long thought of recreation was a splash pad. This had been presented several years ago with the idea of spending somewhere in the range of $100,000 to a maximum of $150,000. This presently is still a positive city project with the site being Centennial Park where there is already parking and a overabundance of unused city property plus a very pleasant environment for parents to be in attendance to watch their children.
Anon 10:30 AM
There is no disagreement that Peru should charge what it actually costs for water. Historically how does the city determine the cost of sewerage. I water my lawn, flower and vegetable gardens in the summer is the sewerage bill fair to me. Water departments do not pay for themselves and the council determined years ago that the electric dept. would help out the water dept. rather than borrow the money.
this is good business and a wise decision by the council. Since you have this thought of actual cost meeting actual billing why don't you attend a council meeting and express it? I bet you don't. If your reason is your working hours there is a meeting you could attend in the morning.
Sewage is gravy - so to speak. It should be figured based on the amount of water sold to the customer. Watering gardens and filling pools should not be a factor. If a customer wants to fill the pool without impacting the sewage bill, there are tanker services that can be used. This could also be a potential profit center for the city - using a tanker truck to fill private pools. Bottom line - every service that the city provides to ta citizen (customer) must be adequately compensated for in one way or another - either through taxation or direct billing.
The Splash Pad Vote Buying Project from Ex. Gov. Quinn and Ex. Rep. Mautino was killed. There will be no grant for this pork from the State.
If we want this project, it must be funded 100% by Peru Tax Dollars, a private benefactor, or a combination. State Tax Revenue will not be wasted on this.
10:51 a expert on water testing your not. Rust does not come from a lack of treatment. It is a result of breaks or disruption of the pipes that the water travels. It is tested out of the plant and then a break may occur, the rust comes from the pipes not the water tested at the plant. TEST has no involvement in the breaking of the line that causes rust in the water. And your inflating the cost of treatment. The cost is not even close. Please give us your name. You are making a attempt to defame a business and they have the rights that elected officials do not. They have the right in court to put you on the hot seat to prove your allegation and a right to be compensated for your references. Opinions are opinions. Your reference is to information that is complete nonsense to defame a business.
to 11:05 AM, Hey genius. 10:51 was talking about chlorination. The word "rust" was never mentioned in that comment. Who are you and why are you defending TEST? Why are YOU speaking nonsense?
10:51 I agree with 11:05
Lois this is why no one take you serious. You allow someone to defame a business who has done nothing wrong, provides good paying jobs to local residents and still you allow this to go on.
I know that by not sighing your name is how it is done but as an administrator you should screen these better even if you think it is OK to go after a private company.
I wonder could the owners of TEST sue you as a co conspirator?
I will have to go to WEB-LAW.com and research that.
1:45 PM
I talked to someone from TEST not too long ago and he said if ever I have a problem with my water, I should call them. I would think if I should call so should anyone else. Rust may not be their problem, it is the cities, so together they should be able to put out a statement regarding that issue and inform people of that: If you have rusty water on an ongoing basis, call the city and if TEST starts receiving complaints they should inform the city of the issue. I believe this is all a matter of communication.
Now if you want to get into the issue of the NO BID contract given to TEST by Peru, that is another issue which people have a right to express their distaste with.
I am going to assume that you are somehow associated with the city and why do people like you always have to try to threaten residents of this city?. The city has the responsibility of providing clean and safe water to its residents and if not, publicly tell them to always boil their drinking water because it is not safe or maybe provide them breaks on their water bill so they can buy filters for the home and replace them weekly because that is what it would take if you go that route.
Lois
All I said is it is a shame that you let people defame a local company with out any consequence. The no-bid contract I know nothing about that.
All i know if your posts cost my company money I am sure the legal dept would be contacting you.
And no I don't do anything with the City of Peru.
Remember that TEST was created by the City of Peru officials decades ago as a way to outsource much of the water and wastewater treatment facility staffing. It is much cheaper to pay TEST than it would be to pay a government wage to all their workers. They can also spread their costs across numerous clients.
2:45 PM
Is Test a company being paid with taxpayer dollars? Everything that people complain about goes back to the NO BID contract and if you don't know about that which I find hard to believe then you don't understand why people are upset.
TEST was created by a previous administration as previously the city handled all the water. If the process were opened up and competitors allowed to bid on the water for the city, no one would be complaining, they would go to the source that would be who is taking care of the water.
Please explain, are you saying no one can say anything about this company..
It was a good idea at the time. There was no other option - i.e. no competition. Over the decades, many companies have been formed to do the same thing. These options should be reviewed. But, keep in mind, that many of our Aldermen still think it is the 1970's in their mind.
Why must the "Big Daddy" of water get made fun of? TEST performs miracles with our water and all people seem to do is rant and rave. For a measly 2 1/2 million Peru has obtained a 5 year assurance of water of the highest quality. If you don't prefer Peru H2O don't drink it, nobodies forcing you to. So there.
The city can walk away from all associations with TEST by enforcing a simple 30 day notification of wanting to do so. Forget the 5 yr. agreement.
6:13 so why is TEST in so many other municipalities all over Illinois?
Because TEST does a good job at a good price.
11:16
The reason is TEST is a private company that is cost effective in treating municipal water. Those cities save money and have quality testing done by TEST. Water treatment is critical and some take for granted that the water company they have had for years has provided both quality and cost savings. With the pensions and union benefits its impossible for any city to have in-house water treatment at less cost than the private providers. The TEST company lives in the city they serve. The quality of their work is not debatable. Is water treatment valuable? Try having the opposite.
5:40. Exactly.
10:57. As can TEST with the city. Let's hope neither do.
What some of you don't understand about bidding is that it is NOT always required and it is NOT always in the best interest of the taxpayers. This is why many professional services are not just given to the "low bidder". That can be extremely foolish and can cost far more in the long term. It really depends on what you are talking about and I do think comparisons should be made but other municipalities that use test do not bid for their services.
12:00 PM, What you and others who defend TEST don't understand is when competitive bidding is done responsibly and honestly by municipalities the best interests of the citizens are always served. You make phony excuses NOT to bid that make no sense. It is the duty and responsibility of elected officials to see to it that the BEST service is provided at the BEST cost to the taxpayers. Bottom line is the city of Peru has no idea if they are getting the best service from the best contractor becuase they have never made an effort to find out via the open bidding process.
9:42 AM, You are clueless and your attempts to scare people by suggesting only TEST can treat Peru's water safely is just silly and ignorant. Nobody said anything about doing Peru doing water treatment in-house, but I beleive Peru could do it for less than what they pay TEST with the proper supervision and assigning some of the existing public works employees to man the operations. Sadly, that will never happen because the public works department is currently terribly mis-managed in every way. There are many reputable non-union contractors that would compete with TEST if only given a chance. You knuckleheads just don't get it and you never will. You two must be a couple of the "Meat-Heads" (dead from the neck up) that used to hang out at the Deli.
that is not how you butter bread and get re-elected 1:32.
Sometimes bidding leads to off shoring. We could send our water sample to Mexico to get tested. All we would have to do is hire a part time clerk to mail the samples and file the paper work? Is that what we want?
I think it is better to over pay a local resource. It is only pennies per tax payer we are talking about. Just bill it accordingly. Same goes for cars, trucks, and working gloves. Better to over pay somebody local than get a bid it out and send the money to another town or another country.
2:39 PM Why is it that you expand the water testing by going all the way to Mexico when the evening the contract was discussed another company from the state was in the council chambers wanting to bid. Representatives from this company expressed their want and were avoided. This same meeting a elderly lady was insulted by more than one city official for no more than asking intelligent questions. Of course the handling of the TEST rider aroused the question of who is the true owner. Has anyone ever found this ownership truthfully?
So 1:32 You must be one of the continual losers who try to run for office and use mud slinging to win.( Which has not worked)
Let us take a look at your post: To say that Test does not do their job properly or that the city does not want to change the contractor is wrong.
I am sure that all the qualifications are looked at and compared.
Next, bring the waste water treatment in house and have the guys at Public works take care of it wrong suggestion.
The guys at the public work dept are understaffed and have enough going on.
Please explain how they are so mismanaged?
As for the comment about having a non union shop handle the waste water plant. I think TEST is a non union company. so your off handed dig about the unions has no merit.
Thank You Loyal Peruvian
9:36 am, You are exactly the type of citizen the current crew of elected officials in Peru are counting on to keep them in office. Unwavering and blind loyalty to Pee-Ruu that allows you to accept and believe everything you are told without thinking. Never asking a question why. Cheerleading without any real understanding of what honest and competent elected officials should be doing while in office. You and others like you are exactly the reason for the repeated closed-minded decisions that are made by Peru officials like No-Bid contracts. As the commentor said, a Meat-Head, Dead From the Neck Up!
As long as we can cut the unions out, I'm for anything. That should be the first decision on any project - does it involve a union. Is so, how do we cut them out.
So 11:43 Are you calling me a Meat-Head That is so grade school.
I do understand what the city is doing because I do ask questions.
There are answers I don't agree with, but understand the the thought process that went into those decisions.
You sound like the (going to your grade school level) last kid picked for a team and not getting to play. so you want to take your ball and go home, and tell your mommy.
The elected officials in Peru, LaSalle and other area's have to figure out how to make sure the services for the city are provided and paid for. Peru has been fortunate to have the retail sales tax to pay for most of the services you receive.
You still have not provided and information on how the Public Works dept. is so mismanaged??
My prediction no matter what happens at the City hall you will not be happy.
if you are so unhappy you can move to LaSalle and pay a lot more in property tax.
Loyal Peruvian
Anon 9:40 AM Anyone that suggests that the answer to a city problem is to move is a MEAT HEAD. I agree with the commentor and 11:43 AM. You are now hitting a perfect -3 for -3 a perfect BA of .000 MEAT HEAD.
9:40, well said!!!!!!
Three "Meat-Head" comments in a row. Three strikes and you're out!
The question is not, "are they doing their job ?" but "How do we know they're doing it properly /" Is it because they claim to be ? Are there any checks in the system ?
In last years road program, I watched them grind a street that had no more than 1 - 1 1/2" of asphalt. It was a mass of potholes. Guess what ? It was topped with an equal amount. Were those the specs ? Who from the city oversaw this work on Parkside Drive ?
Why is it that in the newer areas of residences, the storm drains collapse? Is it because no one from the city oversees the contractor.
Hey 4:17 and 11:31
You must be from the we hate all anything the city does group. So I.m a meat head. Why don't you take off the cynical glasses and see that the city has made improvements on how the work is done and who is accountable for the work.
I'm not saying it perfect but it is a lot better that it was before.
Again I'm waiting for specifics on how the Public Works is SOOOOO mismanaged
Loyal Peruvian
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