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For immediate release: September 7, 2005 (05-113)
Contacts:
Ginny Stern, Office of Drinking
Water 360-236-3134
Deanna Whitman, Communications
Office 360-236-4022
Water system in Grays Harbor under restriction for falsifying
its test reports
OLYMPIA – State health officials have placed Grays Harbor Water District #1, which serves the Grayland area, under a restricted operating permit after the district submitted false bacteria test reports to the Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water.
A restricted — or red — operating permit means no new construction, modification or expansion of the system will be allowed until certain conditions are met.
In an apparent attempt to cut costs, the district has been taking monthly bacteria samples at the well, rather than throughout the system’s distribution pipes as required. The samples were then falsely labeled before they were submitted to the state.
"We are appalled by this system’s disregard for the health and safety of its customers," said Denise Lahmann, southwest regional manager for the Office of Drinking Water. "Fortunately, in this instance, no one appears to have been harmed."
The state learned about the falsified reports on July 27 and required the district to take proper samples right away. These samples and additional tests by the state during an inspection in August did not show evidence of bacterial contamination.
Harmful bacteria like E. coli can get into distribution pipes and plumbing through cracks, new construction and other breaches. If the problems are not found and fixed, these bacteria can make people sick. The only way to know if these harmful bacteria are in the water is to conduct tests throughout the system.
The state has ordered Grays Harbor Water District #1 to take the following actions:
The district’s restricted permit may result in denial of home loans, building permits, onsite sewage disposal permits, food service permits, liquor licenses and other permits or licenses for properties served by the system. It will take a minimum of six months of clean bacteria test results to return the system to adequate status, assuming all other conditions of the department’s orders are satisfied.
The Department of Health is still investigating and is considering what actions to take against the individuals involved.
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