Problems that led to PWSA boil water advisory traced to bird and animal droppings at reservoir, officials say.
Tens of thousands of residents in Pittsburgh’s northern neighborhoods are under a “boil water” advisory Tuesday morning after concerns were raised about possible contamination of the Lanpher Reservoir in Shaler.
Water stations will be set up — at locations to be announced Tuesday morning — for residents who cannot boil water.
Mayor Bill Peduto, in a late-night news conference with PWSA interim director Bob Weimar, stressed that the advisory was being issued “out of an abundance of caution” after some tests showed potential contamination on Friday.
And they cannot be protected from birds and animals, which can cause perforations, Mr. Weimar said.
The reservoir is made up of two cells — a smaller east cell and the larger west cell, the cover of which is in worse shape.
“We will not be able to solve the problems at PWSA in a few years.
There are numerous issues and if one thing goes down within this authority, the potential of not having water in this city is very real.
We want to be able, in the next 12 years, to provide a system of safe drinking water that will take us to 2080.
It doesn’t come easy and it won’t be solved in less than 10 years.” Customers with questions on the advisory can visit www.pgh2o.com or call the authority’s customer service line at 412-255-2423.

PWSA issues ‘precautionary’ flush and boil advisory for North Side neighborhoods, Millvale, Reserve Township.
Updated: 11:03 p.m. About 18,000 homes in Pittsburgh’s North Side neighborhoods, as well as Millvale and Reserve Township, are under a precautionary flush and boil water advisory, PWSA and city officials announced Monday night.
“Sampling methods are not infallible.” Repeat tests conducted Saturday showed no contamination or issues, Weimar said.
“PWSA will also conduct flushing throughout the impacted area to eliminate potentially compromised water,” according to a release.
http://on.wpxi.com/2wNJnAG 65 335 252 Read the rest of PWSA’s release below: “The impacted areas are shown on the attached map (also available here: PWSA Boil Water Area).
PWSA estimates the precautionary flush and boil water advisory affects approximately 18,000 homes in the PWSA service area.
[…] “Customers within the impacted area should do the following before using water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further notice: “Residents who do not know if their property has lead water pipes or solder, it is recommended to first flush your lines by running water from your tap for at least one minute before boiling.
You should throw away ice made during the time the advisory or notice was issued, as freezing does not kill bacteria.
Customers in this service area are being advised to flush their taps and then boil their fresh water to ensure that drinking water meets or exceeds all state and federal water quality requirements.
Customers with questions can go to our website homepage at www.pgh2o.com or call Customer Service at 412.255.2423.

Mechanicville boil-water advisory could soon be lifted.
MECHANICVILLE — City residents could soon be able to drink their water without boiling it first, according to the state Department of Health.
A state-imposed boil-water advisory has been in place since Aug. 2 after routine sampling done by the city found the water to be too cloudy.
State health officials met with city water plant operators Tuesday morning and found the treatment facility “looked really stable,” said Gary Holmes, a Health Department spokesman.
“We decided to start the process for lifting the boil-water order,” he said.
That process involves two days of testing the water by the city and state.
“Assuming the levels are where we believe they will land, the city can share some good news with its residents Thursday,” Holmes said.
“We’ve been working with them pretty closely, and we’ve seen a positive progression.” The boil-water advisory was needed because cloudy water, or high turbidity, can compromise the disinfectant process at the treatment plant and increase the likelihood of contamination, he said.
Holmes said the heavy rains stirring up sediment in the city’s two reservoirs caused the water to be cloudy, and the treatment plant wasn’t able to filter out the turbidity.
Testing for bacteria at six locations in the city came back negative, Holmes said earlier this week.

Boil water advisory remains in effect in Mechanicville, but relief in sight.
Boil water advisory remains in effect in Mechanicville, but relief in sight (WRGB) MECHANICVILLE, NY (WRGB)–People in Mechanicville have spent the last 13 days boiling their water, but relief could be on the way.
The NYS Department of Health says right now they are in the process of lifting the boil water advisory, which means two more consecutive days of bacteria testing – today being day one.
The boil water advisory was issued by DOH back on August 2nd when levels of turbidity were deemed too high.
DOH spokesman Gary Holmes says the turbidity, or cloudiness, was caused mainly by the weather we’ve had this summer.
He says the heavy rains caused sediment to come loose in the reservoir that feeds the water supply.
He says the treatment system provides a disinfectant process, and high levels of turbidity *could interfere with that.
Still, Holmes says he’s expecting negative results from the bacteria testing today and tomorrow and the boil water advisory should be lifted Thursday.
So, it speaks to the fact that the treatment facility was working effectively as a disinfectant and then the boil water was a necessary precaution on top of that, but just that, a precaution," he said.
We also spoke with the Mayor who says he is now working with DOH and city engineers to make sure this issue of high turbidity never happens again.

Mechanicville boil-water advisory could soon be lifted.
MECHANICVILLE — City residents could soon be able to drink their water without boiling it first, according to the state Department of Health.
A state-imposed boil-water advisory has been in place since Aug. 2 after routine sampling done by the city found the water to be too cloudy.
State health officials met with city water plant operators Tuesday morning and found the treatment facility “looked really stable,” said Gary Holmes, a Health Department spokesman.
“We decided to start the process for lifting the boil-water order,” he said.
That process involves two days of testing the water by the city and state.
“Assuming the levels are where we believe they will land, the city can share some good news with its residents Thursday,” Holmes said.
“We’ve been working with them pretty closely, and we’ve seen a positive progression.” The boil-water advisory was needed because cloudy water, or high turbidity, can compromise the disinfectant process at the treatment plant and increase the likelihood of contamination, he said.
Holmes said the heavy rains stirring up sediment in the city’s two reservoirs caused the water to be cloudy, and the treatment plant wasn’t able to filter out the turbidity.
Testing for bacteria at six locations in the city came back negative, Holmes said earlier this week.

Local boil water advisory leads to Flint donations.
In the wake of the recent boil water advisory placed on residents in the city of Belding, community members are coming to donate money and water to those in need in Flint.
On Aug. 4, the city of Belding was placed under a boil water advisory after tests determined there were e-coli findings in the water.
“This year the groups mission project was for water, but I felt that we should keep it local with Flint just because the situation in Flint is so bad and it’s going to be years to come before its fixed,” Schumaker said.
She said that after the boil water advisory in Belding someone had mentioned about donating extra water to Flint and Schumaker told them she already had a fundraiser set up to help Flint residents.
Schumaker said it’s not all about the water though.
“I’m willing to haul water to Flint if anybody brings water, however if we need to I would love to go to a mission day over in Flint and see how things are working over there,” Schumaker said.
For instance, Schumaker said she can earmark it strictly for water or to use the money for what Flint’s need is at the time.
“Sometimes it’s water, sometimes it’s filters.
I know a lot of people were upset when they,” Schumaker said.

Boil Water Advisory issued for some Aiken County Residents.
AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. (WJBF) – A boil water advisory has been issued for some customers of the Valley Public Service Authority.
If you live between Highway 421 and Storm Branch Road, Old Cherokee Road, Willingham Drive, Westside Drive and Diamond Street, and had an interruption in your service today, please boil your water for at least a minute before using it.
Officials say there is no confirmed contamination of the system, though residents should still boil their water as a precaution.
If you should have any questions concerning this notice, you can contact the water system at (803) 593-2053.
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Boil Water Advisory for residents between Highway 421 and Stormbranch Road.
GLOVERVILLE, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) — Officials have declared a boil water advisory for the residents between Highway 421 and Stormbranch Road.
The advisory also includes residents on Old Stormbranch Road, Old Cherokee Road, Willingham Drive, Westside Drive and Diamond Street.
Any residents who experienced an interruption in their water service or low water pressure on Tuesday need to vigorously boil their water for at least one full minute prior to drinking or cooking until further notice, according to officials.
While there has been no confirmed contamination of the system, because of the interruption in service due to an unforeseen water main break, the potential for contamination exists.
Also, any ice made from water that has not been boiled should not be used for drinking purposes, too.
What’s more, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) is currently working with the water system to handle the problem.
Those with any questions or concerns can contact the water system at 803- 593-2053.

Boil Water Advisory issued for some Aiken County Residents.
AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. (WJBF) – A boil water advisory has been issued for some customers of the Valley Public Service Authority.
If you live between Highway 421 and Storm Branch Road, Old Cherokee Road, Willingham Drive, Westside Drive and Diamond Street, and had an interruption in your service today, please boil your water for at least a minute before using it.
Officials say there is no confirmed contamination of the system, though residents should still boil their water as a precaution.
If you should have any questions concerning this notice, you can contact the water system at (803) 593-2053.
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More water woes for B.C.
‘s Semiahmoo First Nation.
The Semiahmoo community is located between White Rock and the U.S.-B.C.
border.
The City of Surrey, B.C., says it can provide the reserve with water after the deal runs out, but staff say major upgrades are needed before that can happen.
"We have to replace the whole water system here on the reserve," said Semiahmoo Coun.
Old infrastructure The First Nation’s water and sewer systems are outdated and inadequate, which is why the 43 band members who live on the reserve have been on a boil-water advisory for years.
"Design drawings for the actual sewer system and water system are being constructed right now," Charles said.
Charles says if there’s a big fire on the reserve, crews will have to split their time between keeping the water tank on the truck full and dousing the flames.
"One thousand gallon tank pumper track tries to put out a fire, and the other pumper truck runs back and forth to the fire hydrant to fill that other tank up."