Salem Resistant Against Water Help from Clarksburg

Other Stories by Susan Sullivan SALEM, W.Va. -- Salem' is getting ready to shut down its water plant, and although the public doesn't want Harrison County 's help, it'll be left high and dry if it doesn't agree ...

[DMJ]

This is just another example of the Harrison County Commission trying to brow beat and coerce people into participating in their pet projects. They continue to use scare tactic like we are going to shut down your water system if you don't take our loan package. I would like to see the official that actually comes to Salem's water plant and turns the valve.I think if these officials continue to threaten these people over this forced loan deal they should be held accountable. I believe they can be sued after they leave office.

[Max]

I think most of the pressure is coming from the Lake Floyd area which since they would benefit the most in seeing that this project passes by the entrance to this development on the way to Salem. This Lake development is looking for a free ride in the deal. The Lake development should be made to put up 30% of the money since they have 250 lots at this site. Another concern I see is that since Salem is at the end of the proposed water line extension they would be the first to loose water in the event of a problem, IE water shortage up stream.Mr Watson claims he want's to see Salem have potable water,well if Salem's water is so bad why did Clarksburg request water from Salem during their last E-coli outbreak? Also a recent Public notice concerning the yearly Water test results from the State noted that Salem's water was acceptable other than some residual left over from the treatment with Chlorine.

[Interested by-stander]

Why isn't Doddridge County a part of this discussion. If the western part of Doddridge County ever wants/needs water it will probably come from Salem area. Future development along route 50 could depend on water supply. Is Salem being asked to subsidize rural areas such as Jarvisville, Marshville etc? It is obvious that a main line from Sun Valley would be cheaper.

[Max]

Salem is incorporated,so they are the only party
that can sign for the loans. These other small communities have no one to sign a contract or loan paper.Also just watch how this construction project turns out. There is no way that you can run water lines to all these little communities for the amount of money they have. What will happen is that the contractor will abandon the project when he gets all the up front money. Just as they did with the Salem sewer project where Salem had to finish the project themselves. Or the Ida Mae sewer project where The contractor design engineering firm abandoned
the job and blamed the citizens for the
un-workable system.Or they will come back for more money stating unforeseen costs such as restoring peoples driveways and torn up yards.
If they hire the contracting firm from Clarksburg Salem better get themselves a lot of buckets to carry water.

[Salem Wv proud]

One of my biggest concern is if this does happen is how much will this raise my bill. Will the rate be the same as Clarksburg? Because I lived in Clarksburg and my bill for 1 month was $80.+. Not to metion that was just for water n sewage. Here in wonderful Salem I pay $55-60 and that includes water,sewage and garbage.:). Not to mentio I still owe Clarksburg 300.00. Will they affect me? I refuse to pay it. My landlord didnt take care of a leak in my basement which caused the problem!! Im a single mom of 2 which one of my two is diable so i couldnt even hire someone to fix the problem then take that scrum butt to court.

[Salem Wv proud]

LOL, Wow I need a proofreader!! Good thing that guy that posted on Wboy's site isnt here he would have a field day lol.

[Razor1979]

I think some of you have very twisted information. Harrison County is not going to "turn the valve" as you put it. The state declared the water in Salem unsafe and gave them a deadline to fix it. That deadline has past twice now and been extended. I understand that people in salem like the low price they pay but does the fact that the chemicals that have been proven to be in the water will kill you over extended exposure bother you? Call me crazy but that would kinda bother me. The last story I read in the paper it sounded to me like the water board was making all kinds of consessions trying to make it more affordable to help salem out by bypassing Sun Valley, which in my opinion they dont really have to do. I dont really care about this topic i live in Clarksburg, but it is scary that the people of Salem are not smart enough to not want to drink something that is going to kill them.

I think the biggest problem holding the project back is that Salem got a grant from the state a while back to repair water lines and they choose to spend that money on something else, from what I understand building a new dam at dog run. Now if the high pressure quality Clarksburg water system is hooked up to the leaky lines of Salem they have no idea how much water they will loose, and how they will pay for all that spilled water. If they dont want to pay for the system being offered I guess they better start drilling wells because the STATE will turn that valve off.

[Razor1979]

For the record my water bill is under $40 dollars a month for me and my wife. It is a little higher in summer time because I wash my cars a good bit. That does not include trash collection. My wast management bill is under $50 every 3 months.

The bottom line I think Salem people need to understand is if they don't want Clarksburg water they better start coming up with another plan because the state is going to force them to do something.

The old city manager, the city counsel, and mayor that did not spend that grant on what they were supposed to should be sued by the current people in office and forced to personally pay that money back. The state gives grants for specific reasons not to be spent as the recipient wants.

[Salem Wv Proud]

Razor I lived in Clarksburg and thier water is just as bad espescially if you lived on a hill which clarksburg is famous for. I dont think is was right of the last office to take the money and use it on other things, but they shouldnt punish us for the neglate. And just for the record how many is in your family cause there is 3 in mine and my water bill was that large>>

[Razor1979]

Look I don't know what you are talking about with living on a hill in Clarksburg. I live at one of the highest points in town above broad oaks and my water is perfect.

You can not compare whatever water issue you had in Clarksburg to a "guarentee from the state and the EPA that the water being prodused in Salem WILL KILL YOU WITH LONG TERM EXPOSURE!!!" What do you people not understand about that?

YOU ARE GETTING A GOOD DEAL ON WATER NOW ITS CHEAP, BUT DO YOU HAVE THE BALLS TO DRINK IT??? IF YOU DO GOOD LUCK IN ABOUT 20 YEARS.

My whole point was you are fighting receiving Clarksburg water because it is too expensive?? What is your plan?? If you don't like the price of Clarksburg water build a new plant, or start digging wells.

[Salem Wv Proud]

Go to the court house and look up both Salem and Clarksburg water testing. Then tell me the diffrents. My uncle works for harrison co. and that is his job to go around testing waters ext. Heck no I will not drink City water period. I was raised on well water!!!! the best for ya!

[FIX WATER NOW]

The city of Salem was awarded a grant for over TWO MILLION DOLLARS a few years ago to FIX the water problem.
That money is GONE! Nobody knows where it was spent. How could that be possible?
The city of Salem has had several chances to FIX their water problems but they have refused.
Currently, the city manager was to collect data of the city of Salems finances.
That was over FOUR MONTHS AGO... and still there has NOT been a financial report prepared.
WHY?
Next: The city of Salem's treatment plant is completely non-reparable.
The only way the Salem will ever come back from the dead is if the city has a water system that is plentifull and clean.
Business will not come to Salem until the basic water needs are meet.
Pensboro has a McDonald's restaurant. Salem will never have anything until there is water!
What is soooooooooo hard to understand about this?
Third world countries have better water than Salem!!!
The city management wants something for nothing. It just does not work that way in real life folks.
You get what you pay for.
If you are content living with filthy water then go ahead. But, do not expect any business to move to Salem. It just will NOT happen.
So many of the problems in Salem can be blammed on the city leaders NOT telling the public the TRUTH about this situation.
If you truly are wanting answers, attend the next meeting of the Sun Valley PSD.
These people can tell you exactly what the REAL SITUATION IS on the proposed water project.
Call SVPSD ask for Kevin Short for their meeting schedule.
If you choose not to attend meetings and base all of your "information" on gossip then you do not have any grounds to say a word if Salem gets past by again and you all are left with an out dated water system and NO future business climate.
WAKE UP SALEM --- GET CLEAN HEALTHY WATER!!!!

[Razor1979]

Salem Wv Proud wrote:

Go to the court house and look up both Salem and Clarksburg water testing. Then tell me the diffrents. My uncle works for harrison co. and that is his job to go around testing waters ext. Heck no I will not drink City water period. I was raised on well water!!!! the best for ya!

You are basing what you say on what you have supposedly been told by your uncle that allegedly works for the county....I base my opinions on what I have read....and what i can see in black and white....And what I can go back and look up to prove to you what you are saying is wrong. Here is the article that I am basing my health concerns on.

http://www.cpubco.com/articles/2007/10/22/col...

From the article......

"Salem’s drinking water is a potential health hazard. It has higher-than-acceptable levels of a chemical compound called trihalomethane, according to the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection. The high levels don’t pose an immediate health risk, but they have been shown to cause cancer in lab animals after long-term exposure, according to the EPA."

[Razor1979]

The toxin you are being exposed to, even if you don't drink it by the way, you are exposed to it through bathing, is trihalomethane. Here is some health info on this wonderful chemical compound for you to read.

http://www.cleanairpurewater.com/trihalometha...

here is one tidbit of info for you to think about.

"Trihalomethanes are a chlorine byproduct estimated by the Water Quality Association to be responsible for 2 – 17% of the diagnosed cases of bladder cancer in the US"

[FIX WATER NOW]

The city of Salem has many problems. They always will until they FIX their water problem.

Misleading their own residents is a BIG problem.

Disfunctional leadership is the root of everything.

The "Industrial Home For Youth", if that is the correct name, I'm not sure. But this facility operates without a water meter!

They paid nothing for years for water.

I beleive now they still only pay the basic rate per month!

WHY?

Unless this has been changed recently, the citizens of Salem are paying the water bill for a STATE run facility.

How many showers are taken daily at this facility? How much water is used for cooking, cleaning, etc.?

Start looking at Salem's leaders and you will find people that either do NOT know or do not CARE.

Either way they need to go.

The sate of WV will take over the water, if Salem does not start producing some financial statements and some explainations.....other than, "We can't afford it", "We can't afford it"...... How can you NOT afford clean, pleantiful water?

Water is a BASIC need.

Salem can't even provide the BASIC NEED OF WATER!

Do you expect them to help provide a better standard of living? Forget that folks.

"Substandard".... should be their motto!

FIX THE WATER NOW!!!!!!

Go to a SVPSD meeting and get the true answers not just gossip and non-facts.

You will agree, Salem is doing some very "shady" stuff.

[FIX WATER NOW]

LISTEN UP SALEM RESIDENTS!!
Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009 at 7:00 PM, there will be a meeting at Salem city hall concerning the low interest loan the state of WV has APPROVED to fix Salem's water woes.

SHOW UP! SPEAK UP IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSAL.

Your "leaders" will discourage your support and try to say that it to expensive.

Do NOT believe their lies.

They (Salem leaders) didn't even bother to show up at the last VERY important meeting concerning this loan, so why should they want it supported.

Do not allow to "jokers" to sway your decision to have CLEAN AND PLENTIFUL WATER.

It is now in YOUR HANDS.... this MUST pass or you will not have another chance for years and years!

SPEAK UP SALEM...... SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR CLEAN WATER!!!

GOOD LUCK.

[Razor1979]

Well said.

I may make an appearance at this meeting. I don't live in Salem but I have family at Lake Floyd and Halls Run this directly effects them also.

[FIX WATER NOW]

GOOD! I may go as well. I have property in Salem but there is not a house on that property.

I am trying to get a few residents from Salem business to show up too.

Possibly...... "see you there".

Great!

[Razor1979]

So a new low for Salem, Today the Salem Industrial Home is bussing prisoners to the armory in Clarksburg to bathe because the water is so badly tainted.

[Larry]

I just saw a bunch of them jailbirds out at Worthington Beach, bathing in the West Fork River. This is a travesty. They say there are little fish that live in that water what will swim up in your urethra. Then we taxpayers are going to have to pay to have them removed. Nice going Salem!