Remington Water District

Dear Remington Water District customer, April 27, 2022 On Tuesday evening, April 26th, Remington Water District customers in the District’s northern pressure zone experienced a water service depressurization event to due to the failure of our generator controller. As was referenced in the notice we issued last week, we temporarily programmed our generators to start and provide power during a power outage, but need to be shut down manually in order to return to utility power until the new controller is installed in a couple of weeks. What our service companying did not clarify with us is that as soon as utility power is restored, the generator controls sense this and attempt to transfer back to utility power and cannot, then the generators shutdown with without making the transfer. All of our pumps are then without power and shutdown as well. For future power outages, and until the new generator controller is installed, the risk of losing water pressure for a brief time until we can manually transfer the generators back to utility power remains.

Because your health is important to us, we want to explain in greater detail the steps we have taken and will continue to take to protect our water supply during a depressurization event. When a significant pressure loss occurs, there is a potential for back flow or cross connection contamination to occur in the water system’s distribution system, thus initiating an opportunity for contaminants to be drawn into the drinking water supply. While we have established preventative measures to significantly diminish the potential for contamination it is not possible for any public drinking water system to completely rule out the potential for contamination during a depressurization event. This potential for the introduction of microbial and chemical contaminants into the water system may pose a special health risk for people with weakened immune systems (immuno-compromised persons), children and the elderly. If such contamination were to occur it may cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, headaches, or other symptoms.

If you are concerned about the potential for contamination due to a depressurization event, please consume bottled water if you notice a decrease in pressure at your tap. (Boiling your water may not be an effective method to ensure that you are protected from all potential contamination). We have added extra chlorine to disinfect the water system. A special water sample will be also taken to test for the presence of coliform bacteria. We should have the results back shortly. If there are any problems with this water sample, you will be notified immediately.
Please note that you may find air bubbles in your water for a few days after this repair. The air bubbles are harmless. If you have questions or concerns regarding our drinking water, please call or text me at (208)659-4197, or e-mail bobkuch@rwdonline.org.

Sincerely,
Bob Kuch
Water System Operator