Water woes in Harrison

HARRISON — Several residents in Harrison are experiencing discoloration and air in their water, prompting city staff to conduct increased water testing.

One resident has also reported a strong chlorine smell coming from the water.

"We did six water quality tests and we did three chloroform and E. coli tests," Harrison Public Works Supervisor Josh Burg said Wednesday. "The three tests came back negative for the E. coli and the chloroform."

Testing has been conducted at six locations, including the town's three well sites, One Shot Charlie's, the Harrison Cemetery and a house on Frederick Avenue. Burg said testing has shown chlorine levels to be well within the appropriate and safe range. City officials have reported the water is safe to drink.

"The ones we’re most concerned about are the iron and manganese, those two things in water which are naturally occurring, can give you an odor, a taste that some people may not like, and the discolor, so that’s one of the reasons why we did this test at the six locations," Burg said.

The city sent a notice about the water issues to residents with their August bills. Dated Sept. 1, the newsletter said the testing is being done to ensure the water meets the requirements of the Department of Environmental Quality.

"We have been looking into where and how the air and color is occurring in our system and formulating a flushing plan to help with this issue," the letter said. "Due to the large volume of water currently being used and the need to have a reserve for fire suppression, the flushing of the system will be scheduled for when use decreases."

The notice has been posted around town. Burg said the city will soon notify residents of fire hydrant flushing that will begin in about two weeks.

"We want to know what areas the levels may be higher or lower to be able to address certain areas," Burg said. "Our plumbing is different throughout the town. It’s important to know where people are seeing the discoloration or getting air in the lines."

Burg said these kinds of water issues have happened sporadically in Harrison through the years.

"I have talked to people who have worked here before, past employees, and they said they had issues occasionally with discolored water, so I don't think it’s anything new," he said.

He said the only work that has been done to the drinking water system in recent memory is when one well was taken offline and cleaned in May, when a new pump and pipe was also installed.

"One of the things we're looking into is issues that could be coming about from hot water heaters,” Burg said. "That can be a source that could introduce colored water from rust, from buildup. Water heaters don’t last forever."

He said the city is willing to help people flush their hot water heaters, as many of the reports of yellowish water have occurred after bathtubs have been filled. Burg said he personally has not seen the yellow or brown discolored water.

"It could be the city’s system from the wells to the end user or it could be a hot water heater at the end user's house that is introducing the problem," he said. "We want to go through everything with a fine-tooth comb."

The city of Harrison received a $771,262 low-interest drinking water construction loan from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality earlier this year and a $1.1 million drinking water grant after the Harrison City Council passed a Local Improvement District in December following the city identifying a severe need to improve its aging water facilities and freshwater capacity.

Burg said aside from surveying and engineering legwork, ground has not yet been broken on the drinking water construction and improvement projects.

Contact Burg and the public works department at 208-889-0862 for information.