SALEM, Ore. — Salem city officials announced Monday they would leave a water advisory in place for another two weeks, as they continue to test and refine new treatment methods.
City Manager Steve Powers told reporters the city is investing $2 million to remove toxins from the water.
City officials stressed that the carbon absorption system is a short-term solution to toxic algal blooms at Detroit Lake.
Powers says they will look into different long-term solutions, like an ozone filtration system, that would cost between $20 million and $30 million.
Joan Gonzalez, who also lives in Salem and was filling up a water jug, says she has spent at least $40 on bottled water.
Still, city officials chose to extend the water advisory for two weeks.
Several people included in that vulnerable population live at Lancaster Village Senior Center where staff say they have spent thousands on water since the crisis started.
“We have people who are on dialysis; we have people whose immune systems are very weak,” said Judy Belt, manager at the senior center.
They attributed it to drinking the water before we knew it was toxic.” Belt says they have spent an extra $5,000 to $6,000 on water and extra labor costs since the water crisis began.
Lancaster Village has bottles for their residents to drink and a large tank for bulk water use in the kitchen.