By Sandra Tan, originally posted on August 3, 2016

 

It’s not just the water mains that are broken.

So are the lines of communication between the Erie County Water Authority and the Erie County Department of Emergency Services.

That’s the conclusion drawn by many during a hearing Wednesday at the County Legislature, which featured finger-pointing, defensiveness and obliviousness over who should have done what after a July 20 water main break.

At one point after the water main broke, county emergency services officials dispatched a Cheektowaga police officer to the water authority’s headquarters to try to find someone with answers.

“I don’t think anybody in this room can say they had full knowledge of what was going on,” said Emergency Services Commissioner Daniel J. Neaverth Jr.

“It seems to me there’s a communication problem all around,” said Legislator Patrick Burke, one of many legislators on both sides who criticized the communication debacle.

More than 200,000 residents, as well as many business owners, feared water contamination for two days and lived under the inconvenience of a boil-water advisory that temporarily shuttered some businesses.

The Erie County Health Department, after consulting with other county and state officials, issued an advisory to boil tap water before drinking it.

The water authority called that unnecessary.

Many legislators said they could understand the county’s desire to ensure public safety, and they also appreciate how the water authority tried to quickly fix the water main break. But lawmakers didn’t accept the shoddy communication system that left the county, the water authority and the public without the information necessary to make smart decisions.

A 36-inch waterline operated by the Water Authority broke June 20 near Millersport Highway, north of the Youngmann Highway, at about 8:30 p.m. Some people lost all service and many more experienced low water pressure. Water service was restored by about 11:30 p.m.

The water authority reiterated its position that Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz jumped the gun in pushing for the advisory for the residents in northern Erie County without consulting them.

An emergency conference call held shortly before 11 p.m. the night of the water main break did not include any official from the authority or even the main Health Department liaison, who was at ECWA headquarters working alongside authority engineers.

“No ECWA scientists or engineers were notified of this call, even though the Emergency Services Department maintains two of our experts’ email, home telephone numbers and cell phone numbers for precisely this purpose,” said Chairman Earl Jann.

Meanwhile, county health and emergency services officials said they made repeated and unsuccessful attempts to reach the water authority for answers. They did not have the phone numbers the water authority said they should have had, and the health department’s main emergency contact with the water authority learned about the problem second-hand.

The authority’s emergency lines and website were down during the water main break because of the overwhelming surge of inquiries.

That’s why the county officials sent the Cheektowaga police officer to the ECWA headquarters.

Emergency services personnel eventually spoke with ECWA Commissioner Jerome Schad. Neaverth said Schad offered to call back with contact names and numbers of authority officials who could better inform the county about what was happening.

When asked about this, Schad told The News that the conversation was brief and that he didn’t recall anyone requesting that he follow up with additional contact information.

“I expected the people who were in charge would take whatever appropriate steps as it rolled out,” Schad said.

Even when the county did communicate with authority staffers, as crews scrambled to fix the broken pipe, the staffers seemed unaware that some homes, businesses, and even hospitals had no water pressure at all.

Two hospitals, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Millard Fillmore Suburban, experienced low water pressure, and St. Joseph’s was unable to get any water pressure to its upper floors, county health officials said. Meanwhile, fire companies worried about how long they would be without sufficient hydrant pressure if fires broke out.

When Neaverth convened a small emergency response team, the team relied on reports from emergency managers throughout the county and information from county health department officials. The response team also heard from the state health department, which regulates hospitals, before deciding to recommend the advisory.

Jann, the ECWA chairman, said that decision caused needless disruption to homes and businesses for days. The industry standard for a boil-water advisory is when water line pressure falls below 20 pounds-per-square inch for four hours. But water line pressure never dropped that low, and certainly not for more than 2½ hours, Jann said.

“Our professionals – experienced scientists and engineers – knew that a boil-water order was not necessary due to their experience maintaining water quality and dealing with thousands of leaks,” Jann told legislators. “Still, a boil-water order was mandated by the county. Our experts were later proven correct.”

Authority officials acknowledged, however, that no water line pressure measurements were taken while the water line was under repair. That, coupled with the fact that county officials were hearing reports of water loss that the ECWA didn’t know about, led the county to take precautionary action, county officials said.

Neaverth said that in recent years the water authority has seemed “reluctant” to participate in the county’s emergency boards, training sessions and drills. He also said a more proactive communication approach by the water authority could have saved everyone a lot of trouble.

Other utility companies have a better emergency protocol, he said.

“When there’s a massive power outage, NYSEG or National Grid contact us if we don’t contact them,” he said. “So there’s a two-way communication.”

Jann responded that the water main break wasn’t big enough to merit such a response.

“By 11 o’clock, we thought this event was over,” he said.

Water flow was being restored around that time.

“We’re not going to call the emergency services unit with every break,” he said.

Both county and water authority officials agree, however, that both sides should do better next time.

“Clearly, the former protocols are inadequate,” Jann said.

He added that significant technology and communication upgrades are planned in coming months.

“We’ll own some of the responsibility, absolutely,” Neaverth said.

All sides will sit down next week to rehash what transpired and what needs to be improved, Neaverth said.

“There needs to be a broad discussion on it, not an us-versus-them,” he said. “Maybe when everybody comes out of their bunker, we’ll move forward on that.”

By Alicia Banks, originally posted on August 3, 2016

 

Eastover officials issued a boil advisory Wednesday after a water main broke late Tuesday night.

The spill affected roughly 1,500 customers; most live east of Interstate 95, said Connie Spell, the district manager for Eastover Sanitary District.

Water was restored to all but two customers on Mistletoe Court as of noon Wednesday, Spell said.

The leak is located off Baywood Road near Mistletoe Court. A five-member crew from Envirolink is repairing the 4-inch-wide water main.

“The break has been isolated, and pressure is being restored,” she said. “The water main should be repaired within the next three to four hours.”

Officials notified customers via the town website, text alerts and phone calls, Spell said.

State law requires municipalities to issue boil advisories when leaks occur, noting the water could be exposed to harmful bacteria.

The advisory cautions customers to boil water for a minute, and then let it cool if it’s being used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation, according to the Eastover Sanitary District’s website.

“It’s a precaution until we do additional testing on the water to make sure its absent of any kind of bacteria,” Spell added. “The boil advisory is just for human consumption, and it’s not related to washing clothes or taking a bath.”

Spell said it’s unknown what caused the water main to break.

The boil advisory could last up to 48 hours. Customers will be notified when the advisory has been lifted.

Originally posted on August 09, 2016

 

MONROE, La (News Release) – The boil advisory for the Charmingdale Water System has been lifted.
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Original Story:
A boil advisory has been issued for the Charmingdale Water System due to a contractor cutting the water line.

This advisory is in effect until further notice.

It is recommended that all consumers disinfect their water before consuming it (including fountain drinks), making ice, brushing teeth, or using it for food preparation or rinsing of foods by the following means:

+ Boil water for (1) one full minute in a clean container. The one minute starts after the water has been brought to a rolling boil.

By Richard Sharkey, originally posted on August 3, 2016

 

The Vicky Lane area in Alexandria is under a water boil advisory.

Water pressure was lost during repairs to two 2-inch service lateral lines in the 400 block of Vicky Lane, and the water in the area may have been compromised, according to Alexandria Utility Director Michael Marcotte.

The boil advisory is in effect until further notice for all properties in the area of Vicky Lane.

It is recommended that all consumers in the affected area disinfect their water before consuming it (including fountain drinks), making ice, brushing teeth, or using it for food preparation or rinsing of foods.

To disinfect the water, boil it for one full minute in a clean container. Shaking can eliminate the flat taste of the water, as can pouring it from one clean container to another or adding a small pinch of salt to each quart of water that is boiled.

originally posted on August 30, 2016

 

ST. LANDRY PARISH, La. (KLFY)– UPDATE: Officials with the Lewisburg Bellevue Water System as lifted their water boil advisory.

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ST. LANDRY PARISH, La. (KLFY) – Officials with the Lewisburg Bellevue Water System have issued a water boil advisory that is effective immediately.

Officials say the system is experiencing low water pressure and crews are working on making necessary repairs.

Affected customers should bring their water to a rolling boil and leave it to disinfect for one full minute before consumption.

The advisory will be rescinded once clean water samples have been approved by DHH.

Originally posted on August 5, 2016

 

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH, LA (WVUE) – St. John the Baptist Parish lifted a boil water advisory that has been in place since Wednesday.

The advisory was for Reserve, Garyville and Mt. Airy.

A water plant lost power and experienced a total loss of water pressure.

Samples of water collected by the Louisiana Department of Health and hospitals came back negative.

Parish officials say residents can resume normal water use.

by Donesha Aldridge, originally posted on August 25, 2016

 

SCOTT COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) — A boil water advisory has been issued for some Scott County residents.

Officials with the H & H Water System in Scott County said this affects residents starting at the Harperville Cemetery on Highway 35 going North. We’re told it affects about 200 customers.

The advisory is due to a line break in the area.

Get tips on boil water advisories from the Mississippi State Department of Health.

originally posted on August 25, 2016

 

SORRENTO – Large swaths of Ascension Parish remain under boil advisories following recent catastrophic flooding in the region, according to the APOHSEP.

Parish officials recently posted an updated list of public water systems currently under boil water advisory due to the recent floods.

According to the population totals, more than 2,000 people are affected by the remaining areas under the advisories.

originally posted on August 26, 2016

 

BLACKSBURG, SC (WSPA) – A boil water advisory has been issued for Blacksburg Water System Northside after water tested positive for E. coli.

They say it was found in the water supply on Buffalo Church Road.

You should boil all water for one minute before drinking it, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes or preparing food.

They say E. coli indicates the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes.

E. coli can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms.

It poses a greater risk for infants, young children, the elderly and people with severely compromised immune systems.

If you experience any symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.

Town officials hope to resolve the issue by tomorrow.

originally posted on August 3, 2016

 

A Jacksonville apartment swimming pool is closed after a backflow device failed and pool water flowed into the water supply.

The closure on Wednesday shut down the pool at Arlington West Apartments near Western Boulevard.

“There is no evidence of contamination in the apartments, but a failed device may have allowed some contamination in an area around a pool,” according to a release by the city.

The city since imposed an advisory recommending residents to boil water, Assistant City Manager Glenn Hargett said.

“There were multiple tests taken,” Hargett said. “Since we put that release out, they have confirmed the device failed. They have one being brought up from Wilmington.”

The city tested for coliform bacteria and other contaminants. Hargett said it was unclear which contaminant was found.

“The saltwater got back to the pipes,” he said. “No evidence of contamination was found in the (apartment) office.”

The notice is not mandatory, however.

“The City of Jacksonville is recommending, if you live in the apartments, that you boil water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and food preparation,” according to the release. “Water should be brought to a … boil for one minute.”

The advisory remains in place. The city will test water at the site 24-48 hours after service is restored before lifting the advisory.

For more information, call City Utilities Maintenance at 910-938-5234 or visit JacksonvilleNC.gov, which has a posting about the advisory. Specifics are posted at JacksonvilleNC.gov/boiladvisory for information.