Chenowith Water PUD lifts boil water order after testing negative for E. coli bacteria

Chenowith Water district has lifted its boil water order after receiving a negative result for the presence of E. coli bacteria in its water system today, July 19.

The PUD tested positive for the bacteria on July 14 and 15.

E. coli can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting.

PUD operators added chlorine to the water system over the weekend to kill bacteria.

Chenowith PUD took water samples to Wix Water Lab on Mill Creek Road on Monday, July 18, for additional tests for E. coli, and they came back negative for the bacteria said Wiley Dodd today, July 19.

It takes 24 hours before a result from the test can be realized.

“It’s been a super big inconvenience for a lot of people,” said Dodd who is a water distributor. “And we’re sorry about that.”

He said that the distribution of information about the boil-water order did not reach everybody as intended.

The PUD used a Reverse 911 system to alert people to the bacteria and utilized radio and Facebook to spread the information. But not everyone using the water system in the affected area necessarily got notice.

Reverse 911 is a communications technology used by public safety to communicate with groups of people in a defined geographic area.

The BOIL WATER ORDER was IN EFFECT FOR CHENOWITH WATER PUD CUSTOMERS FROM WALNUT STREET WEST TO CHENOWITH CREEK, and from 2ND ST. TO 16TH ST. IN THE DALLES.

“We’re trying to find the right solution to guarantee that everyone is notified,” Dodd said. “We have not had a boil water order in 18 years now. So, we are having to do a little bit of updating in that regard and figure out what is our best system to let the entire public know… I’m not sure there is one perfect answer to that question and we’re trying to figure it out right now.”

Here is a link to the original story on the boil-water order.