Water crisis: Some fact, some fiction
Lab says no coliform, boil water advisory rescinded
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
On Tuesday possible bacteria in Peabody's water system brought Wichita television reporters to the community after they were alerted by a citizen's tip.
KAKE television reporter Deb Farris and a cameraman interviewed Mayor Tom Schmidt, city employees, and some residents of Peabody about the rumored bacteria problem in the city water.
Later Tuesday Kansas Department of Health and Environment officials in Salina issued verbal confirmation that no coliform bacteria contamination was found and the story of tainted water quickly became a non-story.
The city of Peabody experienced a loss of pressure in the water distribution system Sunday evening. The cause was a mechanical problem with a valve at the water tower.
With a loss of pressure in the water lines, the potential exists for contaminants to back-siphon into the mains. Water from household plumbing systems can be sucked back into the water pipes as the system returns to normal. That water may contain contaminants that could compromise the distribution system.
City employees took samples from various spots in the water distribution system to test for chlorine residuals. The state requires that certain levels of chlorine in the drinking water be maintained. Chlorine residuals measuring less than that level could indicate an increased demand — the chlorine might have been "used up" to combat higher bacteria levels.
The samples were hand-delivered Monday to a KDHE laboratory in Salina. The testing takes at least 24 hours.
KDHE contacted the city office by phone Tuesday afternoon with test results indicating no evidence of coliform bacteria.
"The boil water advisory has been lifted," said city administrator Jeff Benbrook. "We are back to business as usual."
Confusion was high among residents Monday and Tuesday because of a letter the city had hand-delivered to every home and business Monday afternoon. The letter was a KDHE "form letter" with the boil water advisory included. Inadvertently included was a KDHE warning about coliform bacteria found in "numerous water samples taken on Dec. 4, 2006."
Since test results could not be known until Dec. 5 or 6, there was no way of knowing whether or not contaminants had truly found their way into the water distribution system.
"Chlorine residuals at the time the system was re-activated were above the limits required by law," said Peabody Mayor Tom Schmidt. Schmidt also said city employees had flushed the water lines after the system came back on line. "This is in accordance with KDHE requirements," he said.
"The city is committed to providing a safe and secure water supply for its citizens' use," he said. "That's why we moved so quickly to inform people on Monday.
"The problem was exacerbated by incorrect information being included in the initial advisory."
For more information call the city building at 983-2174.
