PORT ANGELES — As of Sunday morning, July 20, a “Do Not Drink” order is in effect for all City of Port Angeles water utility customers following a fuel tanker accident in Indian Creek on July 18.
City officials, in coordination with the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), are conducting ongoing water testing to assess potential chemical contamination. Some required tests must be reviewed out of state, which has delayed full results. In the meantime, the city’s water reservoirs have dropped to critical levels, forcing officials to begin producing water before testing is fully complete to maintain pressure in the system.
What You Need to Know:
- Do not drink tap water until further notice. Use only bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, making ice, preparing food, and washing dishes. This includes water used for pets.
- Do not attempt to treat tap water at home. Boiling, filtering, or adding disinfectants will not remove potential chemical contaminants.
- Tap water is safe for showering, bathing, flushing toilets, and laundry. Avoid swallowing water during use.
The order affects all customers connected to the city’s water system, including those outside city limits. The advisory is being issued out of an abundance of caution, as water currently entering the system has not been fully tested.
Bottled Water Distribution
To help residents through the emergency, the city is distributing free bottled water on Sunday, July 20, at the following locations:
- Civic Field – 307 South Race Street (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
- Shane Park – 613 South G Street (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
Supplies will be limited based on household size. Priority deliveries are being made to Olympic Medical Center and other critical facilities to support continued operations.
Clallam PUD says its interconnection with the City of PA’s water system has been shut off since Friday morning. All PUD customers are being served solely from water sources that are unaffected by the tanker spill. Any drought water alerts that have been issued prior are still in effect but all systems are safe for consumption.
Residents are urged not to call 9-1-1 for water-related information. Instead, the City will provide updates as test results become available and the situation evolves