Iowa DNR NewsEnvironmental Services Division For immediate release
Aug. 10, 2007 1. Boil order for Chariton drinking water to continue until acuteproblems solved2. Boil order still in effect for Wiota BOIL ORDER FOR CHARITON DRINKING WATER TO CONTINUE UNTIL ACUTE PROBLEMSSOLVED MEDIA CONTACT: Jim Stricker at (515) 725-0270 or at (515) 250-9702after 4:30 p.m. Friday. CHARITON – A boil order the DNR issued Thursday for Charitonresidents is expected to be in effect for several days, although thecity water board and the Des Moines Water Works have agreed to worktogether to address the problems. Chariton residents should continue to boil water used for drinking orcooking, brushing teeth, food preparation or any other purpose involvinghuman consumption until the boil order is lifted. City water may stillbe used for bathing. The order was issued after high levels of turbidity, low chlorineresiduals and elevated bacteria levels were found in routine watertesting. Turbidity is cloudiness caused by particles in the water and isan indication of inadequate water treatment. “The acute issues with turbity, coliform bacteria and chlorine levelscan be corrected fairly quickly,” said Jim Stricker, supervisor of theDes Moines DNR field office. “We hope to lift the boil order in thenext few days, if sample results return to safe levels.” Stricker added that the Des Moines Water Works will be sending fourteams to Chariton on Monday to provide training and oversight. The teamswill address the chemical feeds affecting turbidity and chlorine levels,the distribution system which must be flushed and tested for bacteria,maintenance of the system, and administrative details of reporting testresults. Des Moines Water Works teams could continue to work in Chariton foroversight and training for several months. DNR staff will take additional bacterial samples and check chlorineresiduals in the distribution system on Monday. On Tuesday, DNR staffwill review plant turbidity records concerning turbidity levels in July. “We will continue to require residents to boil their water untilwater samples come back showing the water is safe to drink,” he said.“When that happens, we will issue a press release.” While the DNR expects acute problems to be resolved fairly quickly,there are long-term, low level problems that will take longer to solve. “These are levels of two chemicals, trihalomethane and haloaceticacids, which exceed EPA drinking water standards and present longer termhealth risks if present in drinking water over a long time,” Strickersaid. For the DNR to lift the boil order, turbidity levels must be below 0.3turbidity units, the total chlorine residuals must be above 1.5 mg/Ltotal in the distribution system and bacteria tests must besatisfactory. Boiling destroys disease-causing organisms, which may be in the water.Water should be brought to a boil, boiled one minute and then allowed tocool before using. More information on disinfecting water is availableon the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. Residentsshould continue to boil their water until DNR and Chariton MunicipalWater Works officials notify them that water is meeting standards and issafe to drink. Stricker said that some of the problems at the water supply have beenongoing and that DNR staff have been to Chariton once or twice a weekfor the last six to eight weeks to investigate and provide technicalassistance. Chariton’s water supply comes from two lakes located east of town.The turbidity levels have exceeded standards, and violations have beenissued for June, July and August. The Chariton water supply changed itsdisinfection method in July and must maintain a minimum of 1.5 mg/Ltotal chlorine residual in the distribution system. The requiredchlorine residual was not maintained for 15 days in July. The DNR is proceeding with legal action against the Chariton MunicipalWater Works for not meeting turbidity standards, not meeting the maximumcontaminant level (MCL) for total trihalomethanes and total haloaceticacids, and other issues. # # # BOIL ORDER STILL IN EFFECT FOR WIOTA WIOTA – The boil order for the City of Wiota in Cass County willremain in effect until residents are notified by the DNR. The DNR Atlantic field office collected water samples Thursday afterthe distribution system was shock chlorinated. Laboratory results areexpected back on Monday, but residents should continue to boil waterused for human consumption until the boil order is lifted by the DNR. Residents should boil any water used for drinking, cooking, toothbrushing, food preparation or any other use for human consumption. Thewater may still be used for bathing. The DNR issued the boil order Aug. 2 after samples from Wiota’s watersupply showed E. coli bacteria present. Boiling destroys bacteria present in the water. Water should be broughtto a boil, boiled one minute and then allowed to cool before using. Moreinformation on disinfecting water is available on the EPA Safe DrinkingWater Hotline at (800) 426-4791. - 30 -
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