Suwanee To Install Water System Improvements

The Suwanee water system will get new equipment and new treatment that officials hope will correct discoloration experienced by some residents, City Council members were told Thursday.

James Miller, the city's director of public works, said Thursday that mechanical problems with pumps in both well houses prompted the new equipment. Also, the city has begun a phosphate treatment program because of some residents' complaints of discoloration in their drinking water.

Several residents of the Stonecypher subdivision have complained of a brown color to their tap water, dating to when the homes were built in 2004-05. No health problems have been reported, but some residents say they have had clothes ruined during laundry.

Suwanee actually diverted to Gwinnett County's system for about two weeks as part of the process, Miller said; there is a permanent connection between the systems.

Suwanee's water system serves about 330 homes; there are about 85 homes in the Stonecypher subdivision, though not all those homeowners have voiced complaints.

Installation of the equipment could begin Friday, Miller said. It might be the end of summer before the treatment program is fully implemented.

In other action from Thursday's council work session:

Services dispute: Municipal Court Judge Mark Lewis said that speeding tickets issued by Suwanee Police have declined, though exact figures are not available. Police in Suwanee and several other Gwinnett County cities, as well as the Gwinnett police department, have not been able to use laser or radar for speed detection since Jan. 1, because of the ongoing services dispute with Gwinnett County. The Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department can use the technology and pass along data to other agencies. Officials still are not sure of when or how the services dispute will be resolved.

Pension plan: Suwanee's pension plan is sound, and the city received an upgraded credit rating, officials said. Standard & Poor gave the city a AA rating, up from AA-. The city began a defined-benefit pension plan in 2005, chiefly as a police recruitment and retention tool. The city's plan had a market value of about $2.9 million in January 2011.

Pedestrian Bicycle Plan: At its regular April 26 meeting, City Council will get yet another version of this plan, which was tabled from the February and March meetings. The plan calls for various improvements to city walkways, intersections, and walking/cycling trails.

For more information on these and other city matters, go to the city's website: www.suwanee.com.