SWANSEA -- A group of residents and a recently elected water commissioner want a forensic audit of the town’s water operation.

Fellow board members say that compared to other communities, Swansea is running a good water operation and an audit would be a waste of time and money.

Water Superintendent Jeffrey Sutherland agreed to pass along a written petition for an audit to counsel. A special meeting would need to be set.

Lisa Martelly, recently elected board member, says the office is using an “archaic” booking system, requiring manual input and more labor for water employees. She presented the board with the petition, which she said was given to her before the Sept. 1 meeting.

“It’s an overall feeling of mistrust that people have for the water district," Martelly told board members.

“Sometimes the lack of understanding breeds some of these feelings,” Superintendent Jeffrey Sutherland said.

Martelly told Sutherland that his work is not the issue, but there have been several years of mistrust between the water department and its consumers, she said.

In recent years, the $20 million desalination plant has not produced the expected gallons of water. Town water consumers have also dealt with discolored water.

Martelly, elected in June by a landslide vote, told board members that her victory was in response to these feelings.

Water Board Chairman James Hall said there is an IRS audit conducted and no misuse of funds have been found. He also said that the water tax has decreased over the past seven years while town property taxes have seen a steady increase.

Martelly said IRS audits do not always uncover all deficiencies. She said, if anything, a forensic audit would help build trust between the community and the district.

Hall said people in other communities are also not completely satisfied with their public water.

Hall said over the past three years, since Sutherland’s arrival, the water district has seen improvements in water color and in battling trihalomethane numbers.

“The big problem is with the desalination plant,” Martelly said, adding that it has not worked to its potential since opening in 2014. Meanwhile, there is a water ban on watering lawns and gardens, Martelly said -- despite a $20 million desalination plant.

Hall denied her assertion. Hall said that in recent years, the overall operation -- from accounting to water quality -- has been satisfactory.

Hall had Martelly summarize the issues with the plant.

Hall then said that some of the issues with the plant are not “anyone’s fault.” The issues include more salt water than brackish water, as well as some of the hottest summers on record since 2016.

The board as a whole appeared more in favor of software upgrades.

Hall said such upgrades were discussed in the past but more pressing issues delayed those discussions.