For the first time in recent years—and perhaps in Guild history—the Public Works Department, in conjunction with the State Department of Health Services (DHS—the regulatory agency primarily responsible for safeguarding water quality) issued, and then promptly cancelled, a Boil Water Order in mid July. Along with causing inconvenience, confusion and concern, the process undoubtedly left many residents asking “Why?”

The short answer is that a major water leak on June 25 and the hiring shortly thereafter of a new Chief Operator for our water system have brought about significant changes in the way we respond to leaks, interact with the state Department of Health Services and communicate with members about system repairs. But there’s a lot more to the story than that.

It began in the early hours of June 25, when a 2-inch water main on upper Scenic Drive near the intersection of Cuesta Real ruptured and began leaking thousands of gallons of water per hour into the ground. Shortly after being notified by a neighboring resident, Larry Fama and Dave Schorr arrived on scene at 3:00 a.m., to assess the situation and begin work.
Unfortunately, their efforts were hampered by a number of factors:
First, the isolation valve to shut off flow to the leak had not been exercised regularly over the years and could not be closed. Since closing the next available shut-off valve would result in disrupting water service to a large number of households, considerable time and effort was spent in trying to close the needed valve. Unfortunately, it could not be done, so the repair ultimately affected a larger area than was otherwise intended.

Director of Operations Terry Adams and maintenance staff member Vincent Hamilton arrived at 7:00 a.m. and continued efforts to get the leak under control.
It was already known that this section of pipe that had burst was actually plastic electrical conduit, which is not rated for conveying water at high pressure. This area has leaked in the past, for the same reason. This pipe was installed around 25 years ago.

In mid-June, as part of a recent effort to inventory, organize and repair our maintenance equipment, we had discovered that the main pump used for clearing water from leak sites had fallen into disrepair and was at a repair shop at the time of the leak. This necessitated the use of other, less powerful pumps, which could not completely clear the leak site during excavation. Nonetheless, the leak was brought under control within 12 hours, and after additional work-arounds were put in place, service was restored to all users within several days.

New Operator, New Protocols
Three days after the initial leak, on June 28, we hired a new Chief Operator for our water system. John Chapin has many years of experience and holds Grade 4 treatment and Grade 3 distribution operator licenses. Upon hearing about the leak and subsequent repair, Chapin instructed us to immediately sample water at the homes above and below the leak to test for the presence of contaminating bacteria. This is a standard procedure that DHS requires of all water systems after a leak. However, it does not appear to be a procedure that we have followed on a regular basis in the past.

Unfortunately, our analytical laboratory did not provide test results for the samples taken on June 29 to either John Chapin or any Guild representative until July 10, even though the results indicated the presence of bacterial contamination. Ordinarily, a second test would be done immediately to confirm or deny the presence of contamination. However, since so much time had already lapsed due to the lab’s unexplained delay, regulators at DHS insisted that we take the precaution of posting a “Boil Water Order” at any homes potentially affected by the contamination. In this case, that meant all houses potentially downstream of the leak location, or about two thirds of the community. This notice was issued July 11 and 12 to potentially affected houses.

Simultaneously, under John Chapin’s direction, we flushed all of the lines in our distribution system to ensure high levels of residual chlorine and decrease the likelihood of contamination, and as per DHS protocol, we tested water samples from locations throughout town for two consecutive days. By Friday, July 14, we had the results back, showing no contamination whatsoever, and DHS lifted the “Boil Water Order.” Notices of the cancellation were then immediately posted on all the affected homes.

New Notification Procedures
Going forward, we will be following DHS regulations regarding “Boil Water Orders” and “Boil Water Advisories.” These communications are designed to share important information with consumers so they can make informed decisions and take precautions to safeguard their health.
Here is what you can expect as we work to comply with DHS requirements in the future:
DHS regulations state that any time pressure in a water main drops below 5 pounds per square inch (psi), a Boil Water Advisory must be issued to the affected customers, and water samples must be collected from homes immediately above and below the area of reduced pressure and tested for bacterial contamination.

This does not mean that there is contamination; it is simply means we need to take the precautionary steps of testing the water and advising customers of the potential risk. When pressure drops below 5 psi—especially in an old water system such as ours—there is the potential for dirt and debris to get pulled into the distribution lines. Proper repair procedures minimize this risk, but DHS regulations require that we err on the side of caution.

Because our system requires (unfortunately) frequent repair, you should expect to see “Boil Water Advisory” notices posted periodically. We have not done this before, and posting these notices, as well as posting the notice lifting the Advisory, is quite labor-intensive. However, it is our responsibility to communicate this important information to our water users and to comply with DHS regulations, so we will do everything we can to promptly inform everyone going forward.

A “Boil Water Order” is issued only if the presence of contamination is confirmed—or, as was the case recently, if test results are not issued promptly and a further delay to confirm or deny the presence of contamination seems imprudent.

Our goal is to produce and deliver safe drinking water to all our water users. Doing so requires infrastructure that is in good repair, adherence to regular maintenance routines, professional oversight, and the support of well-trained staff and volunteers. We are making great progress on all these fronts and will do everything in our power to prevent contamination of our drinking water, from any source.

We regret the inconvenience and concern that the recent “Boil Water Order” may have caused and are committed to ensuring that such a notice does not have to be posted again.