THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINE • Late Spring 2019 47 TheCoastalBend.com Coastal Bend Community meaning. Perhaps that is the intent of its author—to make the heads of listeners swim aimlessly in search of a literal meaning that does not logically exist. Perhaps the goal of the statement is to make its audience tune-out and just accept the recommenda- tion, even if they have no idea what it is. This is linguistic jazz-hands. Beyond the enigmatic delivery of his report and recommendations, Van Vleck’s advocacy for chlorine burnouts is in and of itself problematic. In fact, famed envi- ronmental activist Eric Brockovich, who has visited Corpus Christi to learn about our water safety problems, has written, “[A chlorine burnout] is not safe…it is in fact extremely dangerous, and to some life threatening. The levels of chlorine used in a burnout produce chloroform which is primarily what you smell, if inhaled in a hot shower or through medical devices (humidifiers, CPAPs or nebulizers) it can cause chemically induced asthma and pneumonia. Drinking water utilities will tell you the drinking water meets or exceeds all standards…what they don’t tell you is that they test the water before a burnout and then test the water after a burnout (never dur- ing)…quarterly testing is all that is required and some burnouts last as much as 90-days.” In Van Vleck’s July 27, 2015, presentation to City Council, in an effort to prevent future bacterial outbreaks like those that led to the first water boil, he recommended an ordinance requiring private well owners to install, at their expense, backflow preventers on their City taps, and to prohibit new water wells within the city lim- its—all this despite the fact that private wells were not identified as the source of contamination in Flour Bluff. He also recommended the creation of a separate “pres- sure zone” in Flour Bluff, as well as continued special sampling in that area of town. Van Vleck’s expert opinion that the City’s bacteria problem was specific to Flour Bluff evaporated on September 4th when low chlorine levels were identified in sam- ples taken on North Beach and the area along Ocean Drive south of Airline. Localized water boil notices were issued for about 1,500 customers that lasted for 12 days, and that was lifted over a week later after increased chlorine levels were implemented. This time, Flour Bluff well owners were not blamed, and the problem appeared to be clearly caused by mismanagement of the drinking water system. The chemical process that leads to bacteria in the water system is known as ni- trification. According to our source inside City Hall, in an October 14, 2015, internal memo from Van Vleck to City Manager Olson, he discusses other Texas cities that have experienced nitrification and that “we will develop a strategic plan that identi- fies the actions that will be taken to better manage the system.” This is Mark Van Vleck, who has not earned the TCEQ Certified Water System Operator certification that his subordinates possess, promising to develop a plan, at the City level and un- der his direction, to prevent nitrification in Corpus Christi’s drinking water system. If you Google, “TCEQ nitrification plan,” through the magic of the Internet, you will find—in less than one second—a seven-page PDF entitled “Nitrification Action Plan” from TCEQ, that guides water system operators through the step-by-step pro- cess of developing, implementing and maintaining a plan that prevents the kind of bacterial outbreaks that led to our water boils. Can I be hired water director? How about your 12-year-old who can spell and use Google? “These reports you handed in—it’s as though you have no professional training at all. I don’t know what this is supposed to be.” “Just trying to get ahead.” “Well I’m sorry, we just can’t keep you on.” “Well I don’t even really work here.” “I know. That’s what makes this so difficult.” (Above) New water tower on Holly Road stands dormant and empty, as state regulators threaten fines and legal action over delays going online; (Below) Kramer the fake expert.