I read this in last night’s paper and it prompted me to address this issue for our dealers and end-users in Utah as well as the other mountain states that have to deal with the spring runoff situation that occurs every year.
First, kudos to the management in Kamas for being vigilant and proactive with their customers to ensure their health & safety.
Dry mountain states depend on an accumulated snow-pack as a way to store water trough winter, to refill aquifers, charge rivers and refill reservoirs so that we have enough water for agriculture, people and the surrounding fauna & flora. The spring runoff rejuvenates canyons and moves massive amounts of dirt, debris, and organic matter downstream. In the process, this will change raw water quality and introduce turbidity, microorganisms and other contaminants into water. Even if actual “flooding” doesn’t occur, there is still a major sedimentary and organic load that will present a massive challenge to municipal suppliers.
If you live in an area where your water supply could be affected by runoff, then you’d be wise to perform the following procedure every spring:
- Disinfect your softener brine tank
- Cycle your softener and any other whole-house water treatment devices
- Replace all cartridge-type filters (POU and POE) and thoroughly sanitize the housings
- Flush your water heater
If you ever see cloudy water or notice a musty/fishy smell to the water, contact your local certified water specialist to ensure that you and your family are safe. It’s also a very good idea to stay current on your water treatment system periodic maintenance, cleaning, and disinfection services to make sure you keep your water quality where it needs to be.
Oakley city water put under boil order
Oakley residents are being asked to boil their water before drinking it after recent flooding contaminated the supply.
Oakley city water users should boil their water for three to five minutes before drinking it, said Summit County Sheriff’s Detective Ron Bridge. The boil order is in effect until further notice.
Several Summit County Health Department tests found contaminants in the water after the swollen Weber River flooded parts of the city. Crews will are cleaning the water with chlorine, flushing the whole system and will wait for further test results.
Water is available at Oakley city hall, Mayor Blake Frazier said. Residents can call Oakley City hall at 435-783-5734 for more information.