PORT ANGELES — The City of Port Angeles has lifted a boil water notice for all its water customers.
The city received satisfactory water sample results at and lifted the notice at 4:17 a.m. Tuesday. It is no longer necessary to boil tap water or consume bottled water.
The city issued the boil water notice for all its water customers Monday afternoon after it put a water main back in service prior to obtaining test results.
Once repairs were completed on a leaking water transmission main about 11 p.m. Sunday, crews worked throughout the night to seal, flush and refill the main, the city stated in a Monday press release.
Water samples were obtained and submitted for testing at 10 a.m. Monday, but based on reservoir levels and consumption trends, the city anticipated reaching critical reservoir levels Monday afternoon and put the main back into service.
The boil water notice was effective at 4 p.m. Monday.
“All City Water Utility customers should use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking, cooking, making ice and brushing teeth,” the city stated in a press release. “To eliminate bacteria and other organisms that may have been introduced into the water, tap water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute. Let the water cool before using.”
Water analysis takes 18 hours to complete.
Tap water is safe for showering, bathing and other household uses, including washing dishes in the dishwasher as long as the heat/sanitizing cycle and commercial dishwashing detergent are used, the city stated.
Due to the severity of the main break and its impact on the city’s water supply — and to assist in the remediation process — Acting City Manager Calvin W. Goings declared a state of emergency.
The 24-inch water main, which was leaking at the rate of about 150 gallons per minute Saturday afternoon, is the connection between the city’s water treatment facility and its reservoirs.
Officials ensured that the reservoirs were full before work began, they said, since once the water main has been isolated, the reservoirs cannot be filled again until repairs are finished. So officials urged residents to limit their water usage while the leak from the large transmission line was repaired.
A portion of the Olympic Discovery Trail was closed at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. The segment, located between the 18th Street and Kacee Way Trailhead and Lower Elwha Road and Kacee Way Trailhead, was to be closed until water main repairs were completed.
To view the original announcement, see www.cityofpa.us.
