BY PEPPER FISHER
Port Angeles – Several of our listeners had questions about the Do Not Drink order declared by the City of Port Angeles following last week’s tanker truck crash into Indian Creek.
We reached out to city officials to see if we could get a clearer picture of how the initial request to conserve water led to the Do Not Drink order, and the subsequent distribution of drinking water, which was called off just hours later.
Public Works & Utilities Director Scott Curtin offered us the following statement. “The City restarted water intake operations at approximately 8:30am on Sunday. The City had waited as long as was possible to allow resources to mobilize, begin sampling, testing and cleanup. Waiting any longer to restart water operations would have risked system water pressure dropping below regulated minimums, which would have resulted in bacteria testing and flushing of mains and would have only further complicated the situation. Because we did not have test results back and confirmed through the Department of Health at that time, we had to implement a “Do Not Drink” order to ensure safety.
On Sunday afternoon, during a meeting with the State Department of Ecology, State Department of Health, EPA, and other agency officials, we learned that test results were received from the State’s contracted lab. Our initial understanding was that the State was considering an out-of-state lab because the mobile lab brought into town could not conduct all of the testing. Ultimately, some of the tests required were taken to a brick-and-mortar lab in Olympia. Those results were reviewed by the Department of Health and confirmed that the water was safe to remove the “do not drink” restrictions. At 3:39pm on Sunday, I received written concurrence from the Department of Health that the advisory could be removed. After receiving that information, I met with staff at the Water Treatment Plant and reviewed all treatment processes to make sure that our data matched what the test results were showing. Everything at the plant looked good, and I notified the City Manager that I agreed with removing the water restriction. The City sent an announcement to the public shortly after 5pm.
Also on Sunday afternoon, at the City’s direction, another third-party lab was on site conducting additional sampling and testing. We coordinated those tests as additional safety measures. Our results are being shared with the other agencies as we receive them.
We continue to work with the Department of Health for continued testing and monitoring, and we intend to for some time. Out of an abundance of caution, we will also temporarily shut down water intake operations when the first heavy rainfall occurs to allow any potential contaminants that may exist on the shoreline to flow past the Ranney Well without risk of being drawn into the plant.
Testing results have not indicated a need for concern. We will continue to monitor and provide updates on the City’s website. We appreciate everyone’s continued support and patience as we work through this event.
The City has worked with State Officials to ensure additional protections remain in place, including the placement of floating absorbents booms which have been deployed in multiple locations within the river. This includes in front of the channel that feeds into the Ranney Well. The Ranney Well itself provides some resilience from this type of event, as it draws water from 65 feet below the riverbed within the Elwha River.”
(Photo: Cars line up at water distribution site at Shane Park in Port Angeles on Sunday, July 20)