Originally posted on september 28, 2016

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (News Release) – UPDATE: A Boil Water Advisory was lifted Thursday afternoon for about 150 residents in the Fairview Estates and Rock Creek Manor neighborhoods, plus the Twin Falls Golf Club and businesses north of the golf club.

The advisory has been in effect since Wednesday afternoon when a water main burst near the Twin Falls Golf Club.

The city of of Twin Falls is working with Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to ensure that water did not become contaminated during the water main break. The city expects to know by 4 p.m. Thursday if the Boil Water Advisory can be lifted. A Boil Water Advisory is a precautionary measure implemented by the Idaho DEQ and the City of Twin Falls to protect residents in the event of water contamination. Drinking water may become contaminated if there is a significant reduction in water pressure, which can be caused by a rupture in water lines.

City workers contained isolated the ruptured line and restored water pressure at about 8 p.m. Wednesday. However, about an hour later a second rupture occurred at a different spot on the water main. City workers were able to contain and repair the second line break at about 10 p.m. Wednesday. The city is investigating the cause of the two water main breaks, and it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates to the public as they become available.

Josh Palmer, the city’s public information’s officer, said the advisory was put out to be safe.

“It’s just a precautionary measure, but we want to make sure all of our citizens are safe,” he said. “We contacted all 150 customers through our reverse 911 system and through flyers on their doors as well as through some of the other digital channels that we have.”

Some residents in the area say they slipped through the cracks though. Residents like Betty Caroline, who says she found out other ways and called the city. She says she was told for alerts she needed to register her phone.

“It’s Frustrating if you’ve never been through it before,” she said. “What if it had been a dire emergency?”

Palmer said that it was a boil advisory, which is mainly cautionary. If it had been dire they would have issued a boil order.

“If we would have had a boil order, that’s much more significant,” Palmer said. “That’s when we believe that contaminants have entered the water. In which case we do things a little bit differently. It’s a little more of an aggressive approach to ensure that our customers know that the water at that time is not safe for consumption and we take different approaches to that.”

There were two ruptures in the line in the same area.

“It may take us some time to figure out exactly what caused it. In the meantime we’re going to monitor that main very closely,” Palmer said. “We’ll also, when we do know what the cause of that is, be able to release that to the public and we’ll address it then.”

ORIGINAL News Release (Wednesday, Sept. 28):
The city of Twin Falls has issued a Boil Water Advisory for about 150 residents in the Fairview Estates and Rock Creek Manor neighborhoods. This is a precautionary measure to protect residents following a water main break that occurred near the Twin Falls Golf Club on Wednesday afternoon.

Although the cause of the water main break has not yet been determined, about 150 homes are experiencing fluctuations in water pressure. The Twin Falls Golf Club and businesses directly north of the golf club are also affected.

City workers are on the scene to isolate the ruptured line and restore water pressure to residents in the area. The city will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates to the public. As they become available.

A Boil Water Advisory is a precautionary measure that encourages water users to do the following:

– Boil drinking water
– Drink bottled water
– Use a certified filtration unit for drinking water
– Water is safe for all other uses, and does not require boiling or treatment
– Restaurants and food retailers should contact South Central Public Health District for guidance

For updated information, please continue to follow the City Alerts on the city’s website at www.tfid.org or by calling 208-735-7287. Any restaurants or food retailers how may have been impacted are encouraged to contact the South Central Public Health District for guidance.

South Central
Public Health District
1020 Washington St N
Twin Falls ID 83301-3156
(208) 737-5900