Potential water service disruption and potential precautionary boil water notice
BENTON COUNTY — The Benton Washington Regional Public Water Authority — a regional wholesale drinking water provider to Water District No. 1 (including the towns of Avoca and Little Flock), Bella Vista Property Owners Association, Centerton, Decatur, Garfield, Gateway Public Water Authority, Gentry, Gravette, Highfill, Lost Bridge Village, Lincoln, Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Siloam Springs, Washington Water Authority and Westville Utility Authority (Westville, Okla.) — plans to shut down for 48 hours to complete a portion of its expansion project.
In a press release, Scott Borman, general manager BWRPWA, states the following:
“As part of our long-term planning process we are currently in the process of construction to expand our treatment capabilities by 24 million gallons per day. Part of this process will require BWRPWA to shut down for a time so that work can be done inside our clearwell, which is the 2 million gallon storage facility at the treatment plant.
“Actual construction activity will begin on Monday afternoon and we will begin the shut down process early on Tuesday morning, March 24, 2009. It will be expected that all of our customer systems will have their own storage facilities full at the time of shutdown and all the outlying BWRPWA Storage will also be full (18.3 million gallons). The time for completion of the work is 24 hours from the time of the plant shutdown. During this period, all customers’ systems will be provided safe drinking water through a combination of their own storage and BWRPWA storage facilities.
“Once the construction has been completed, BWRPWA will begin treating water again and begin to fill the 2 million gallon clearwell storage facility. In accordance with Arkansas Department of Health requirements, once we have refilled the clearwell, BWRPWA will be required to pass two consecutive bacteriological tests taken a minimum of 24 hours apart. Given that these tests have a 24-hour incubation period, it will be an additional 48 hours before we can pump water without issuing a precautionary boil water notice.
“In order to facilitate this construction, Bella Vista POA, the city of Gentry, Prairie Grove and Decatur have indicated they will be supplied by alternate sources during this period. Benton County Water District No. 1 has also indicated they have adequate storage to provide a minimum of 48 hours storage for their system. Given this, we estimate at this time that there is adequate stored water to supply our customers for the construction time frame and subsequent testing period without issuing any advisories.
“However, should an emergency situation occur during this time frame — 72 hours — BWRPWA will return to normal operations. If an emergency does occur, it is important to note that while the water being provided will meet all of the required federal and state statutory requirements for safe drinking water; because the two consecutive bacteriological samples were not completed prior to pumping treated water, BWRPWA will be required to issue a precautionary boil water notice.
“Consequently, we will rely on all local media to help us get the word out should it become necessary.
“BWRPWA is asking that all of their customers minimize their water usage during the period from March 24 through March 27, 2009. This is being requested so that we can maximize the use of the storage facilities.
“Currently, we project that we will return to normal operations by the morning of Friday, March 27, 2009.”