For immediate release: January 8, 2009   (09-004)

Contacts:
Carolyn Cox, Office of Drinking Water 360-236-3162
Donn Moyer, Communications Office 360-236-4076

Floods damage water systems; boil water advisories issued

OLYMPIA ¾ The State Department of Health today issued boil-water advisories for water systems in Pacific, Lewis, Clallam, Kittitas, and Yakima counties. The Acme water system in Whatcom County also has issued a health advisory to some of its customers.

Pacific County
In South Bend, an 80-foot section of water main was destroyed by flooding, cutting off the town’s water supply. The Pacific County community is getting water from the City of Raymond, supplying all but about 50 customers in the Baleville area with water. All 2,261 South Bend customers are advised to boil their water. South Bend is isolated because roads into town are impassable. Customers can call 360-875-5571.

The Parpala Road area of Naselle is without water because a water line serving the area washed out on Wednesday. About 90 people are affected. The agency advises these residents to boil their water when service is restored. Customers can call 360-484-3815.

Lewis County
The 1,020 people served by the City of Morton’s water system are under a boil-water advisory because the city switched to an emergency well after the river water intake washed away. The advisory is expected to last several days. Customers can call 360-496-5210.

A boil-water advisory also is in effect for Pe Ell, which is still recovering from the December 2007 flood. The water system is temporarily using water from an unnamed creek because the rain-swollen Chehalis River is too muddy for adequate treatment. The 935 residents served by this system are being asked to conserve water as well because capacity is down by 50 percent. Customers can call 360-291-3543.

Clallam County
In Clallam County, a boil-water advisory is in effect for the 2,200 people served by the Crescent water system. The system relies on treated river water for its supply, but the water has been churned-up and can no longer be adequately treated. Customers can call 360-928-3128.

Kittitas County
Part of Kittitas County Water District #5 system is out of water. A transmission line on the bridge across the Yakima River is damaged and leaking, and about 100 recreational homes on one side of the river are without water. The 200 recreational homes on the other side of the river still have water. Customers can call 509-260-0652.

Yakima County
In Yakima County, a boil-water advisory is in effect for Hart Creek Summer Homes, which has two full-time residents and an average January population of seven. The water supply from Hart Creek can’t be adequately treated due to the storms. Customers can call 509-371-3628.

Whatcom County
The Acme water system in Whatcom County issued a boil advisory Tuesday when a water main broke. About 100 people on Turkington Road are affected. Customers can call 360-595-2543.

“We’re closely monitoring these and other water systems that are having flood-related problems and offering them assistance,” said Denise Clifford, director of the agency’s Office of Drinking Water. “We expect to see more problems as the flood waters recede. It can take several days to test water for contamination.”

Until further notice, residents in areas with boil-water advisories should boil their tap water for one minute and allow it to cool before using it to drink, make ice, brush teeth, prepare food, or wash dishes.

###