News from July 1, 2004 issue

Tradewater 'clean' according to standards
Tradewater River and its tributaries in Crittenden County are in pretty good shape, according to Lee Dew a member of the Tradewater River - Lower Green River Watershed Watch (TRLGRWW).

Dew recently gave a report to Crittenden County magistrates on the status of water quality in the Tradewater River. He said that the Tradewater and its tributaries tested better in Crittenden than most other counties.

"Your water so far is in great shape," Dew told the fiscal court. "Partly because of your economy and partly because the Clear Creek area in Hopkins County does a good job of filtering what comes out of Madisonville and Earlington, your water is okay."

Dew said his group tests water quality in various streams and creeks along the Green and Tradewater rivers. He said the tests are passed along to the Kentucky Division of Water, which he suggested doesn't have enough manpower to test all of Kentucky's waterways.
Checking for pathogens, turbidity, nutrients, heavy metals and farm chemicals is the TRLGRWW's main focus.

"Pathogens are the biggest problem," Dew said, pointing out that fecal coliform, a common denominator in E. Coli, is the greatest occurring pathogen. Every stream has fecal coliform to some degree, he said, noting that bird and animal waste ends up there. Also, some municipal sewer treatment plants return treated water to streams and creeks.

The group recently tested Piney Creek in Crittenden County and got a 40 ml reading on fecal coliform. That's good, he said. Some places have readings over one million.

"Frankly, that's absolutely marvelous water," Dew said about the Piney Creek results. He said water is considered safe for swimming at 200 ml. For boating the standard for safety is 1,000 ml and for drinking water intake (prior to treatment), it's 2,000.

The Tradewater is in pretty good shape the closer it gets to its destination, the Ohio River, Dew said. The river is 132 miles long, originates in Christian County and touches five more Kentucky counties before emptying into the Ohio below Sturgis.

Dew said the farm chemical Atrazine is the most common pollutant found in Kentucky streams, which has a harmful effect on aquatic life. All surface water systems have some level of Atrazine, Dew said.

Testing is generally done during May, July and September. Volunteers interested in working with the river watch group should contact it through the Internet web site at http://kywater.org/watch/tg.htm.

Drain problem causes pool to close
Swimmers and summer lifeguards are looking for alternatives to the Marion Country Club pool after the Pennyrile District Health Department closed the facility after an inspection Monday afternoon.

The pool, which serves as a public pool two days a week and is the practice facility for the community swim team, failed to pass inspection. Pool manager Ruth Marshall said inspectors found a design flaw with the routing of the main drain.

The pool could be closed for the remainder of the summer. The problem, which Marshall suggests will require re-routing of the drain, could take several weeks to repair and plans must first be pre-approved by the health department.

Environmental specialist Elisha Kite, who inspected the pool, said several problems exist with the main drain.

She said too much suction is coming from the drain and it is not covered with a grate. Secondly, the drain should be located at the bottom of the pool insead of on a wall and it must be routed through the surge pump. Kite said too much suction could result in danger to children if they or their clothing get caught against the drain.

No problems with the drain had ever been brought to Marshall's attention during previous inspections.

Marion Country Club president Dennis Lacy began calling pool companies in the area Tuesday, arranging visits to get estimates on the repairs.

"I didn't know there were any problems," Marshall said Monday afternoon a few hours after the inspectors posted a "Closed" sign on the front entrance to the pool. "I know the life expectancy of a pool is about 25 years, and this one was built in 1965, but I didn't know there were any mechanical problems."

Marshall said apparently the pool's two original drains were sealed off in the early 1990s and a new main drain installed. It, according to Kite, should not have been moved from the bottom of the pool and should have been connected to the surge tank.

Marshall speculates the new drain was installed to eliminate leaks in the pool's concrete lining.

Swim team practice is cancelled for the remainder of the summer, as are all pool rentals.
Swim team coach Angie Owen began notifying parents of swim team members Monday afternoon. Only one home meet was on the schedule, so Owen said away meets will be held as planned. She is considering alternative locations for the one home meet and was checking with some area pools in hopes of scheduling practice sessions.

Closing the pool will result in reduced income for the Marion Country Club Pro Shop, which sells sandwiches and snacks to swimmers throughout the week. The club will also lose about $160 in weekly revenue it generated when the pool was open to the public each Monday and Thursday.

Seven teenagers who work as lifeguards are out of a job as well.

Marshall said she works hard to maintain the pool, sometimes rushing out to the facility in the middle of the night to check the pumps if lightning causes a brief power outage. All of her labor is so kids have a place to swim in the summer.

"A couple of years ago, a little boy showed up on public day with a cup full of pennies," she said. "I counted out 200 pennies so he could swim that afternoon and he had some left.
"I asked him if he wanted a snack, and he said, no he would save the rest of the pennies for next time. So I put the cup under the counter.

"I was gone the next week, but sure enough, he came back with some more pennies and they counted them out for him.

"That's why I do this, not for any other reason, because it's too much work."

Marshall speculates the pool could be closed for the remainder of the summer, depending on the length of time it takes to bring the pool drain into health department compliance.
Kite said the state can approve plans for correcting the problem in as little as a week, but it could take up to a month depending on workload.