This memo is to inform the community about an ongoing issue with manganese levels in the drinking water supplied by the Lake Waynoka Water Plant and to detail the steps we are taking to address the situation.

Background of the Issue
The Lake Waynoka Water Plant, originally constructed in the early 1970s, has been facing increasing challenges in removing manganese from our raw water source, the reservoir. Over the years, the concentration of naturally occurring manganese in the reservoir has risen, reaching a high point this year. This problem is most prevalent during the summer months due to a combination of factors, including storm water runoff from the surrounding area and a natural process in the reservoir known as "turnover," where temperature changes cause water layers to mix. The primary source of the manganese is the natural decay of leaves from deciduous trees in the drainage area that feeds our backup reservoir.

While our current treatment process removes a significant amount of manganese, the age of our facility, which has not had a major modernization since its construction, limits its effectiveness when raw water manganese levels are exceptionally high. As a result, the manganese levels in the finished water have, at times, exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) secondary standard.

Understanding Manganese Levels: Health vs. Aesthetic Issues
It is crucial to understand the distinction between the EP A's primary and secondary drinking water standards.

• Primary Standards are based on health considerations and are legally enforceable. The water from the Lake Waynoka plant remains well within all primary health-based standards.
• Secondary Standards are non-enforceable guidelines related to aesthetic considerations, such as taste, color, and odor. Manganese falls under this category.

An example of an aesthetic issue is discolored water (brownish tint) which can cause stains on laundry, plumbing fixtures, and dishware. An example of a potential health issue, which we are not experiencing, would be contamination with a substance known to cause illness at certain concentrations. The EPA has established a health advisory level for manganese, and our water has consistently been below this level.

We want to reassure the community that the water is generally safe for bathing, and showering. However, due to the aesthetic issues, some residents may find the water unappealing.

Our Immediate Actions
To immediately address this issue and provide the best quality water possible, we have switched our supply to our alternate source: Brown County Rural Water. This water source is free of the manganese issues we are currently experiencing. We anticipate that we will continue to source water from Brown County Rural Water through at least the upcoming holiday weekend.

Please be aware that this switch in water sources may cause a temporary disruption in the system. The reversal of water flow direction in some areas may stir up residual sediment that has settled in the water mains over time. You may notice temporary discoloration or sediment in your water. To minimize this, we will be conducting a systematic flushing of fire hydrants in localized areas throughout the community.

Looking Forward
We are working closely with the Ohio EPA and consulting with water treatment engineers to evaluate long-term solutions for our water plant. This will likely involve a significant modernization project to upgrade our treatment processes to effectively handle the changing conditions of our raw water source.

We deeply appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through these challenges. We are committed to providing safe and high-quality drinking water to the Lake Waynoka community.

Sincerely,
Greg Wilson
Water and Sewer Superintendent
wilson@lakewaynoka.com

Click Here to view the Facebook video post titled "General Manager Update Water Plant Superintendent Greg Wilson provides an update on current water concerns".

Interested in becoming a part of the WRWSD Board of Trustees? Fill out a board application today! Deadlines and submitting instructions are in each application. Please follow the instructions. Any deviations will result in your application being rejected.

WRWSD Board Application

The Long Range Planning Committee has released their 2025 annual report. This report:

• Defines community capital assessments, discusses strategic objectives and forecasts suggested activities and plans for the upcoming 5-year period.
• Provides the WPOA Board with budgetary information that is helpful to select, prioritize and plan for improvements in existing amenities as well as potential new amenities.
• Is used by the Board to guide the overall management and direction of the community for the benefit of WPOA members and guests.
• Presents Five-Year Strategy Plans for three capital assessment accounts (Roads, Lake and Improvements).
• Includes the WPOA Vision and Values, and Community Goals and Objectives.
• Includes a history of capital assessment accounts fees starting with the 30-year Reserve Study conducted in 2017 by Reserve Advisors, a contracted management advisory group.

2025 LRPC Annual Report

*All reports are also located on our Documents Page under the 'Reports' section

The WRWSD Board of Trustees is focused on controlling costs and keeping water and sewer charges competitive. For 2024, a homeowner's combined water and sewer bill is $76/month for a minimum usage of 3,000 gallons. This includes $29.50 for water and $46.50 for sewer, which can be found on the back of your monthly statement.

With community growth pushing our sewer system to average running at over 80% of its annual capacity, we have begun the process to identify necessary upgrades. An engineering firm has been hired for this purpose, but we expect a significant increase in sewer charges to fund the work. The WRWSD Board will try to do our best to keep you up to speed on the project status and projected impact to rates as key milestones are met. The planning phase of the project, which we are now in, is expected to take 4-5 months.

The design phase is then expected to take 12-15 months followed by the 3-4 month bid phase. It is not until this phase completes, in late 2026, that we will be able to give a more accurate impact to the sewer rates. The construction phase of 18-24 months will then follow. This means the sewer expansion project is expected to not complete until late 2028. The ‘ballpark’ cost for the sewer expansion is $10million, but this is very preliminary, and it could easily go up as the process moves forward. The WRWSD is now not eligible for grants due to the community’s median income exceeding the qualifying threshold.

To reduce the amount we need to borrow for the project, we plan to increase our reserves starting in 2025. At this point we will target the sewer rate to increase by $20 in 2025, with an additional increase the following year. The exact loan amount, term, and future sewer assessments are still undetermined for the reasons stated in the above paragraph. While building reserves can mitigate the impact of future fee increases, it will not eliminate them entirely. Expanding the sewer plant is necessary as there are no alternatives.

Septic systems are not permitted, and Brown County does not offer sewer services to our area. Water reserves may also need to be increased in the future due to rising demand, requiring additional changes to the water production side of the plant. Brown County Rural Water (BCRW) is a short-term solution for Lake Waynoka and not a sustainable option, as its production capacity is committed elsewhere for the next 15 years. To keep the community informed about the sewer expansion project and its progress, the WRWSD board will share updates on the Lake Waynoka website in the "Documents" section. Community members who have subscribed to this service will receive email notifications whenever new documents are uploaded.

WPOA Board Process for Handling Community Improvement Suggestions

Community Improvement Suggestion Form

If you are unable to submit this form digitally, please print and fill it out, and submit it to the administration office or email to the Board President: eads@lakewaynoka.com. Hard copies are available for pickup at the administration office.

Email to:
eads@lakewaynoka.com

Mail to:

The Long Range Planning Committee has released their 2024 annual report. This report:

• Defines community capital assessments, discusses strategic objectives and forecasts suggested activities and plans for the upcoming 5-year period.
• Provides the WPOA Board with budgetary information that is helpful to select, prioritize and plan for improvements in existing amenities as well as potential new amenities.
• Is used by the Board to guide the overall management and direction of the community for the benefit of WPOA members and guests.
• Presents Five-Year Strategy Plans for three capital assessment accounts (Roads, Lake and Improvements).
• Includes the WPOA Vision and Values, and Community Goals and Objectives.
• Includes a history of capital assessment accounts fees starting with the 30-year Reserve Study conducted in 2017 by Reserve Advisors, a contracted management advisory group.

2024 LRPC Annual Report

*All reports are also located on our Documents Page under the 'Reports' section

Master Meter has published a new version of their 'Water Advisor' app. Please note that even if you were using 'My Water Advisor 1.0', regardless of access method(smartphone app or web browser), you will still have to register to use 'My Water Advisor 2.0'. Use the guide below to register and login to view your water usage.

Important Registration Note: Make sure to 'Sign up with account number', and put only your last name in the 'Full Name' text box.

My Water Advisor 2.0 User Guide

Click Here to read the MAD Scientist Associates, LLC White Paper regarding Algal Blooms at Lake Waynoka, Brown County, Ohio.

Click Here to view the Lake Advisory Committee Rule Change Recommendation Summary Report.