DEQ says cloudy water should clear in Crowder, Indianola

Monday, March 7th 2005, 4:58 pm

By: News On 6

CROWDER, Okla. (AP) Some problems with a chemical used in the water treatment system led to cloudiness in the water in the communities of Indianola and Crowder, but officials said there was no public health hazard and the murkiness should clear.

The Department of Environmental Quality traced the problems to the chemical, alum, which is used in the water treatment system.

Water for customers in Indianola and Crowder is treated at the Pittsburg County Public Works Authority in Crowder, after being drawn from Lake Eufaula.

An excessive amount of alum had to be used after officials discovered they were using a bad batch of the chemical. The excessive alum caused the Ph level to drop in the water, causing it to become corrosive and making the water cloudy.