TOWN OF ALDERSON POST OFFICE BOX 179 CITY BUILDING—202 SOUTH MONROE STREET ALDERSON, WEST VIRGINIA 24910 TELEPHONE (304) 445-2916 NEWS RELEASE - 4 - 19 - 2020

Contact:  Mayor Travis Copenhaver 304-445-2916 / Margaret Hambrick 304-646-2439

Pump Troubles Yesterday,   most   people   had   no   idea   we   had   a   major   emergency   in   our   wastewater   treatment   department. That   team   was   down   one   pump   at   the   #2   lift   station   before   yesterday.   Under   normal   conditions   the   second pump can handle the load. Bob   was   in   contact   with   the   company   about   repairs   of   the   other   pump   well   before   yesterday.   But, yesterday morning, something happened to shut down the second pump and burn up wiring. The   #2’s   significance   is   that   it   takes   everything   from   town   (both   sides   and   all   of   the   other   lift   stations)   and forces it to the sewer plant. Think of a major heart attack stopping the flow to the body and heart itself. This   was   a   major   issue   that   had   to   have   immediate   help   and   these   are   not   parts   that   you   can   run   to   the local   hardware   or   even   borrow   from   other   cities   (we   tried   major   dealers,   towns,   and   every   resource   we had). Friday   evening   we   sat   down   and   figured   that   we   could   pull   a   bigger   pump   from   one   of   the   other   lift   stations and   it   should   fit   the   pump   rails   and   align   with   the   pump   discharge   port.   We   spoke   with   our   company   that handles   our   electrical   issues   on   the   lift   stations   and   they   felt   it   could   handle   the   load   of   the   larger   pump   as well. This   morning,   the   second   pump   from   the   #3   was   pulled   and   brought   to   the   #2.   It   was   a   lot   of   tough,   nasty work   pulling   all   of   the   wiring   through   such   small   conduit   (six   men   pulling   together   at   one   point)   and   using our crane to pull and move pumps. The   controls   at   the   #2   can   handle   the   load   of   the   larger   pump   (but   there   is   only   2   amps   to   spare). Everything aligned to the rails and connections. The   nasty   picture   is   proof   that   we   can   do   better   with   not   flushing   things   that   aren’t   sewage   down   the   toilet. That   was   how   Steve   spent   his   Easter   morning.   Unclogging   that   nasty   mess!   PLEASE   STOP   FLUSHING WIPES AND   TRASH.   Remember   the   three   p’s   —   poop,   pee,   and   toilet   paper!   That’s   all   that   gets   flushed! No socks, towels, needles, wipes, or GLOVES!!! The   hard   work   and   dedication   of   Bob   Rhodes,   Steven   R Trent,   Heath   Mullins,   Rick   Burns,   and   Zack   Burns should   not   go   unnoticed   ever.   Especially   today. Your   toilets   flush   today! Think   about   what   the   ramifications of them not being here would have as we are all social distancing. We   are   all   blessed   to   have   dedicated   staff   helping   us.   Especially   me.   Without   our   team,   there   is   no   way   I would   be   the   mayor.   I   would   put   my   team   up   against   any   in   the   nation!   Their   selfless   dedication   to   our town is unbelievable. Travis (Click photos for larger view)