OHA Drinking Water Services
Contact Report Details |
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PWS ID: | OR41 00552 | ||
PWS Name: | BRIDGE WATER DISTRICT | ||
Who Was Contacted: | complainant name withheld | ||
Contact Phone: | 111-111-1111 | ||
Contact Date: | 10/08/2018 | ||
Contacted By: | PARRY, BETSY (DWP) | ||
Contact Method/Location: | Phone | ||
Assistance Type: | WATER QUALITY COMPLAINT | ||
Reasons: | SWTR |
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Details: | Initial complaint from a District customer was about the time lapse in early 2018 between high turbidity levels and when a Boil notice was distributed to consumers. I explained that the PWS had only just started monitoring turbidity levels in February as part of the interim requirements while on a timeline to add filtration treatment, so the reporting and recognition of consequences for those new results was slow. It is important to keep in mind that the quality of the water was no different or worse than in previous years, though this time they got a Boil notice. Higher turbidity DOES increase the risk of contamination and illness, but the only difference from the past was that now it was being measured. The Water District is on a Bilateral Compliance Agreement to install filtration by March 2019. Whenever there is significant rainfall between now and then, if the unfiltered turbidity rises above 5 NTU (due to rapid water infiltration in "springs"), residents may anticipate another notice, though not a Boil this winter unless lab results also show fecal microbes. Complainant also brought up water outages, rate increases and the boards non-responsiveness to financial questions at board meetings. I said I would try to find contact info for an organization of special districts, who may have processes to consult. I also contacted the WD board chair who said there have been no water outages and only once in the last 1.5 years have any public members attended a monthly meeting. |