Boiling over
<p>Bruce Mullen, of Post Falls, holds a glass of water that he poured from the tap in his home. The water system in the Arundel By the River mobile home community has been contaminated by river algae for more than a year.</p>
POST FALLS - Joan Roberts knows the value of good drinking water by default.
Since May she and other residents of the Arundel Mobile Home Park off McGuire Road along the Spokane River in Post Falls have been required by the state to boil their drinking water - or buy it - due to river algae in the private system.
The problem, Roberts said, is just the latest water quality and pressure issue after years of ongoing frustrations.
"I've been buying bottled water for about 18 months," she said. "It costs me between $50 and $60 a month. I pay $320 a month rent to get water, sewer and garbage. They ought to pay me back or take that much off my rent until they fix the water."
Brenda Evans, manager of The Rental Connection, the landlord of the park that has 50 or so mobile homes, could not be reached for comment on Friday or Monday.
A note from the agency dated July 31 to the residents states it has been "working closely" with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality on the problem and that it informed the state that it will be reinstalling filtration.
"We are waiting for one more part to be installed and once that is in, it is our belief that you will see a dramatic increase in water quality," the note states. " ... be assured that your water is being treated and tested on a very regular basis and we are committed to resolving this matter very soon."
But Suzanne Scheidt, DEQ's local drinking water program supervisor, said the landlord doesn't appear to have a sense of urgency for resolution.
"Unfortunately, the water system owner did not appear at the last scheduled compliance meeting with DEQ drinking water staff on July 15," Scheidt wrote in an e-mail. "The DEQ Coeur d'Alene Regional Office has referred this matter to the DEQ State Office in Boise in an effort to obtain a resolution."
DEQ in April responded to several complaints of discolored water in the system. Tests from samples revealed diatoms (river algae) in the water, an indicator that the well is under the direct influence of the river. The water also has excessive lead.
"DEQ is requiring the system remain under the boil water advisory until which time as the system is able to provide adequate treatment at the current source or provide an approved source of water to the users," Scheidt wrote.
Resident Bruce Mullen said tenants worry about the health of their families and pets "with no resolution in sight."
"It's inconvenient constantly having to boil your water," he said. "I make my own tea, so you have to boil for that. You have to boil the water for the dog. If you brush your teeth, you boil the water."
Mullen said the landlord doesn't show compassion or an interest in resolving the issue and refers complaints to DEQ.
He said the water will also be inexplicably shut off for a few hours at times and it can take up to 15 minutes to fill one side of his double sink with water.
Mullen said he cleaned his hot water tank and installed new fixtures to increase the pressure, but it was only a temporary fix.
"It went up for three weeks, then the system got clogged up again," he said.
Roberts said a similar situation occurred to her several years ago after she cleaned her pipes. She said she doesn't have enough pressure to water the lawn, but also has safety concerns.
"If you had a fire you'd be out of luck unless you had a fire extinguisher, then it better be a small fire," she said.