http://www.wacotrib.com/news/environment/marlin-city-manager-water-treatment-plant-was-not-removing-solid/article_df80459f-ce3e-525d-9ffe-26887df29255.html#.Vmbq6-1BQoE.twitter

This is nuts

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As Marlin continues to contend with water issues, its city manager said Monday that solid waste hadn't been properly removed from the water for years after city employees had dismantled the "clarifier" or chemical-cleansing process.

Marlin City Manager Ken Knight said filters did catch the sludge, however, making the water safe to drink.

Clarifiers treat wastewater with a chemical that binds solids together as a large propeller rotates through the tank to remove the sludge, Knight said. When operating correctly, a clarifier pushes relatively clean water through the filters, he said.

"Previous operators and previous employees of the city disabled most, if not all, of the automated features of that plant, in some cases cutting wires," Knight said. "They also took certain pieces of the plant, like the clarifiers, offline. As far as we can tell, it hadn't been turned on in six years, which was simply gross negligence by those operating it."

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Have you been through Marlin other than on Hwy 6?

If so, this would not come as a surprise.

Many times. Still a shock that they were basically drinking untreated water.....

I am surprised the facility was not up on blocks.

I got a call a few weeks ago, was told there are quite a few foreclosures there. Asked if I was interested.

I told him no thanks.

quote:

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I got a call a few weeks ago, was told there are quite a few foreclosures there. Asked if I was interested.

I told him no thanks.

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It's sad. There are several houses for sale there (some nice older homes and some ****ters) that have been on the market for over two years and will probably not sell any time soon. Who would buy a house there?

FYI, I live just outside of Chilton and know lots of folks over there that would move if they could sell out at a decent price.

Why is the place such a hell hole?

My wife and I grew up there and it was a good small town. We left for college in 1966. Remember 'White Flight'? Kids whose family farmed or ranched stayed on but all others went to Dallas, Houston, etc. Folks got old and died and the tax base dried up. Great place for drugs being half-way between Houston and Dallas.
School system was taken over because nothing met state standards. Lawmen in jail,etc. A real shame!

Another big blow to Marlin was when the VA hospital greatly reduced the staff and services in the early 90s.

They have a "lake" that I'm pretty sure not many people have ever seen in person. It would explain a lot. You're much safer drinking the beer from one of the 2 hole in the wall bars there.