Fallon's arsenic problem gone with crank of a valve

FALLON - Fallon went from pariah to pioneer with the twist of a valve Tuesday, when 21st century engineering lifted the arsenic stigma from the city and its water supply.

About 250 people filled the front lawn of Fallon's new arsenic-removing water treatment plant to watch Mayor Ken Tedford, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Jim Gibbons turn a valve and connect city residents to nearly arsenic-free water.

Fallon's treatment plant is the first in the nation designed solely to remove arsenic from water. But it won't be the last.

A new federal standard of 10 parts per billion arsenic in drinking water is set to kick in on Jan. 23, 2006.

The new arsenic standard, lowered from 50ppb, will apply to all water systems with 15 or more connections or those serving 30 or more people.

In Nevada, about 140 water systems do not meet the new arsenic standard. In California there are 354 such systems. In Arizona there are 330. And in Utah, about 45 water systems have too much arsenic.

Those with the worst problems, city officials believe, will come knocking on the door of Fallon's treatment plant.

With an arsenic level around 100ppb in the city's basalt aquifer, Fallon was originally ordered in 2000 to comply with the 50 ppb standard by September 2003. When the city went looking for arsenic -removing technology, it became apparent there was none that would do the job on a large scale.

The plant and all its workings were designed specifically for Fallon at a cost of $17.5 million. That money, city leaders say, has not only built a treatment plant but a model that will help other cities who may be served with compliance orders in the future.

The nearby town of Fernley is the only municipality in the state so far to have applied for an extension. With an arsenic level just below the current 50ppb standard, Fernley won't have to drop its arsenic content until 2009.

Fernley Public Works Director Kurt Kramer said he thinks the cost of similar water treatment plants could be cut in half by 2009.

Tedford, Gibbons and Reid all agreed, the most beneficial part of the new plant is Fallon's new-found peace of mind.

"It's good," Tedford said after his first sip of treated water.

"It's amazing what you can get for 17.5 million dollars," said Reid.

Cory McConnell can be contacted at cmcconnell@lahontanvalleynews.com