CLALLAM BAY — Clallam Bay water customers who had service restored Tuesday night must now boil their water, or use bottled water, until test results show the water is safe.
Clallam County Public Utility District customers east of the Breakwater Inn lost water service between about 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday after a water main broke.
PUD spokesman Michael Howe said the repair, originally expected to be completed at 5 p.m., took longer than expected because of the depth of the pipe. He did not know why the pipe broke.
Howe said 130 homes and 30 commercial customers were affected.
Clallam Bay residents who have had water service restored are urged to boil their water or use bottled water for cooking, drinking, making ice and brush teeth, the state Department of Health said.
“The utility must disinfect and flush the waterlines and have the water tested for bacteria,” the health advisory read.
Test results will take 18 hours, at minimum, “so we’re hoping they’re back by Thursday,” Howe said.
Tap water should be brought to a rolling boil for one minute to kill germs.
The PUD said it also is important to conserve water.
The PUD went door to door posting information about the boil-water health advisory.
The outage did not affect Sekiu or the Clallam Bay Correctional Facility.
“I know the PUD called all of the customers that were on that line,” Howe said.
“We did a reverse 9-1-1 deal.”
A flashing electronic sign and message board at Clallam Bay High School alerted residents of the outage. Classes were canceled because of the outage.
For more information, visit www.clallampud.net or phone 360-452-9771 or 800-542-7859.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
