February 24, 2023 Update: A boil water advisory remains in effect for households along S. Carpenter Rd and OK Mill Road.
February 24, 2023 Update
Boil Water Advisory Remains in Effect
Out of an abundance of caution, a boil water advisory remains in effect for 75 households along S. Carpenter Rd and OK Mill Road which is outside city limits.
February 23, 2023 Update
Boil Water Advisory Remains in Effect
City staff have made repairs to the line and successfully completed the tie-in. They are currently flushing the system and, once flushed, staff will collect water samples to be analyzed. The boil water advisory remains in effect until further notice.
February 22, 2023 Update
Boil Water Advisory Remains in Effect
Out of an abundance of caution, a boil water advisory remains in effect for 75 households along S. Carpenter Rd and OK Mill Road which is outside city limits.
February 21, 2023 Update
Boil Water Advisory Remains in Effect
Staff and contractors have completed installing the new main and metered connection with Snohomish PUD. Next steps are to tie the new section in with the existing, thoroughly flush the system and sample in accordance with WA Department of Health guidelines.
February 17, 2023 Update
Boil Water Advisory Remains in Effect
City staff and our contractor continue to make progress to complete the repairs.
Out of an abundance of caution, a boil water advisory remains in effect for 75 households along S. Carpenter Rd and OK Mill Road which is outside city limits.
February 16, 2023 Update
Boil Water Advisory Remains in Effect
Out of an abundance of caution, a boil water advisory remains in effect for 75 households along S. Carpenter Rd and OK Mill Road which is outside city limits.
February 15, 2023 Update
Boil Water Advisory Remains in Effect
The boil water advisory remains in place for approximately 75 homes along OK Mill Rd and S. Carpenter Road.
The third break is in a very difficult location, the City is coordinating with Snohomish PUD to install new piping and a new connection. These back-to-back incidents highlight the city’s aging infrastructure. Restoring water service to affected customers is a priority and we thank you for your patience and understanding.
February 14, 2023 Update
Boil Water Advisory Remains in Effect
Out of an abundance of caution, a boil water advisory remains in effect for 75 households along S. Carpenter Rd and OK Mill Road which is outside city limits. Crews from the City of Snohomish will be working with an outside contractor to repair the third break this week.
February 13, 2023 Update
Boil Water Advisory Remains in Effect
Out of an abundance of caution, a boil water advisory remains in effect for 75 households along S. Carpenter Rd and OK Mill Road which is outside city limits. Crews from the City of Snohomish will be working with an outside contractor to repair the third break this week. Staff delivered drinking water to the affected households and businesses today, along with information about possible outages, pressure fluctuations, and notifications they might experience while the work is being done.
Where To Find Updates:
Updates will be posted on the City’s website (www.snohomishWA.gov) and social media sites (Facebook and NextDoor). For instant notification, please consider signing for City of Snohomish NewsFlashes at https://www.snohomishwa.gov/list.aspx.
February 9, 2023 Update
Boil Water Advisory Remains in Effect
Out of an abundance of caution, a boil water advisory remains in effect for 75 households along S. Carpenter Rd and OK Mill Road which is outside city limits. Crews from the City of Snohomish are working with an outside contractor and ordering necessary equipment and supplies to repair the third break next week.
“With age, the City's water system has been experiencing an increasing number of breaks. This can be frustrating for our water customers. The current transmission line break is only the most recent example. We apologize for any inconvenience,” said City Mayor Linda Redmon. “Crews have been in the field since we were alerted to the break and have been working to get the situation resolved as quickly as possible. We are ensuring that water is available to the impacted customers. I want to thank our staff for the long hours of hard work and our water customers for their continued patience.”
In order to secure additional funding and resources needed to address long-term impacts of the aging water main on customers and the community, Mayor Redmon has issued an emergency declaration. The City has been coordinating response with the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management.
“The City is working with multiple agencies to address the current system failure with a quick solution that will also reinforce our water system and prevent future disruptions to service,” added Redmon “The work being done for this current event will also inform our ongoing evaluation of the status of our infrastructure and help us form a strategic plan to address the problems. Our goal is to preserve and strengthen our community, especially our vital infrastructure.”
If you have not received a boil water advisory directly at your residence or would like to know if your residence is one those that have been affected, please call 360-568-3115.
What Happened:
On Sunday, January 29, 2023, a water main break was discovered at Newberg Rd and OK Mill Rd. Crews responded, completed the repair, and restored water service. The following day, a second water main break was discovered at Sander’s Rd and S. Carpenter and City staff determined it would be in the best interest of public health and safety to issue a boil water advisory. On Tuesday, February 7, a third break was discovered in the same water main.
What Have We Done:
City crews repaired the previous two water main breaks and, in accordance with public health recommendations from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), flushed the system to restore the chlorine residual and standard operating pressures. Drinking water samples have been collected and analyzed regularly.
Current Status:
As of today, drinking water sample results continue to be satisfactory. However, the water pressure in the pipe remains below normal which means it does not meet the minimum operating pressure required by DOH and may possibly become contaminated by outside water sources. The boil water advisory remains in place.
Next Steps:
Crews from the City of Snohomish are working with an outside contractor and ordering necessary equipment and supplies to repair the third break next week.
Where To Find Updates:
Updates will be posted on the City’s website (www.snohomishWA.gov) and social media sites (Facebook and NextDoor). For instant notification, please consider signing for City of Snohomish NewsFlashes at https://www.snohomishwa.gov/list.aspx.
February 8, 2023 Update
Boil Water Advisory Remains in Effect
February 7, 2023 Update
Boil Water Advisory Remains in Effect
Following an extensive investigation of the 17-mile transmission main, a third break was discovered at the very top of the line near the City’s connection with Snohomish PUD. Staff are locating the equipment needed and coordinating with a contractor to assist in making the repair.
We received notification that some homes were without water last night. Staff have adjusted flow through the valves and all residences have had water restored. Finding the correct balance of pressure and volume that does not cause new problems at the lower elevations and still maintains flow to all residences at higher elevation requires a bit of trial and error. Please be patient with fluctuating flows. If you find your home without water, please do not hesitate to contact the City at 360-568-3115.
We will continue to provide daily updates until the boil advisory is lifted.
February 6, 2023 Update
Boil Water Advisory Remains in Effect
At this time there is no change in the operation of the transmission main. Crews are continuing to investigate the main.
We have mentioned in several updates that we have sampled the water. Some people may be asking why?
The most common water sample and the ones we have been taking are called Coliform Samples – sometimes they are referred to as Bacti or Purity samples.
Coliform bacteria are organisms that are present in the environment and in the feces of all warm-blooded animals and humans. Coliform bacteria will not likely cause illness. If coliform bacteria are found in a water sample, water system operators work to find the source of contamination and restore safe drinking water.
The City of Snohomish staff have collected and had analyzed two sets of six Coliform samples over the last week – all samples came back Satisfactory (good). Bacterial contamination of the water main is not a concern at this time.
For more information:
https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/drinking-water/contaminants/coliform
February 3, 2023 Update:
Boil Water Advisory Remains in Effect
Out of an abundance of caution, a boil water advisory remains in effect for 75 households along S. Carpenter Rd and OK Mill Road. If you have not received a boil water advisory directly at your residence or would like to know if your residence is one of those that have been affected, please call 360-568-3115.
Timeline and Next Steps
What Happened:
On Sunday, January 29, 2023, a water main break was discovered at Newberg Rd and OK Mill Rd. Crews responded, completed the repair, and restored water service. The following day, a second water main break was discovered at Sander’s Rd and S. Carpenter and City staff determined it would be in the best interest of public health and safety to issue a boil water advisory.
What Have We Done:
City crews repaired the water main break at Newberg Rd on Sunday, January 29, 2023, and it was determined that the water main break on Sander’s Rd would require contractors certified to work with this specific type of pipe. The repair was completed Tuesday, January 31, 2023.
As service was reinstated, in accordance with public health recommendations from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), staff flushed the system to restore the chlorine residual and standard operating pressures. Drinking water samples have been collected and analyzed regularly since the break.
Current Status:
As of today, drinking water samples results continue to be satisfactory. However, because the water pressure in the pipe remains below normal and does not meet the minimum operating pressure required by DOH, the boil water advisory remains in place.
Next Steps:
The City of Snohomish will continue to flush the affected water main and continue to investigate potential causes of low operating pressure being reported along OK Mill Rd and S. Carpenter Rd.
Where To Find Updates:
Updates will be posted on the City’s website (www.snohomishWA.gov) and social media sites (Facebook and NextDoor). For instant notification, please consider signing for City of Snohomish NewsFlashes at https://www.snohomishwa.gov/list.aspx.
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February 2, 2023 Update:
The boil water advisory remains in effect until further notice.
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February 1, 2023 Update:
A boil water advisory remains in effect for 75 households along S. Carpenter Rd and OK Mill Road. The City will provide an update when the boil water advisory is lifted and no longer in effect.
Please see the Boil Water Advisory Frequent Asked Questions below.
If you have not received a boil water advisory directly at your residence or would like to know if your residence is one those that have been affected, please call 360-568-3115.
For more information about drinking water emergencies, please go to: https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/drinking-water/drinking-water-emergencies.
Boil Water Advisory Frequent Asked Questions
Can I wash my hands with tap water?
- When using a public water supply, vigorous hand washing with soap and tap water is safe for basic personal hygiene. If you are washing your hands to prepare food, if possible, you should use boiled (then cooled) water, disinfected water or bottled water with hand soap.
Can I wash my dishes or clothes?
- For hand-washed dishes, rinse for a minute in a bleach solution (1 tablespoon bleach per gallon of water). Allow dishes to completely air dry. Most household dishwashers do not reach the proper temperature to sanitize dishes. It is safe to wash clothes in tap water.
Is it safe to take a bath, shower or shave?
- The water may be used for showering, baths, shaving and washing, as long as it is not swallowed or gets in the eyes, nose or mouth. Children and individuals with disabilities should have their bath supervised to ensure water is not swallowed. The time spent bathing should be minimized. for cleansing until the advisory is lifted.
How should I wash fruit and vegetables, or make ice?
- Fruits and vegetables should be washed with boiled (then cooled) water, bottled water or water disinfected with 8 drops (approximately 1/8 teaspoon) of unscented household bleach per gallon of water. Ice should be made with boiled water or bottled water.
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