Chinook lifts boil water order

The city of Chinook lifted the boil order on its water after tests showed no problems following a break in its main line, but people still are urged to be cautious.

The city issued a boil order late Thursday afternoon while awaiting tests on its water. Late Friday morning, the city lifted the order.

“None of our testing has shown disease-causing organisms in the water,” a press release from the city says.

The release continues to urge people at a high risk from contaminated water — including households with infants, some elderly people and people with severely compromised immune systems — to contact their health care providers for more information.

The softball-sized break in the main line coming out of the city water treatment plant depressurized the system and cut off water to the city. When a system depressurizes, disease-causing organisms could enter the water system.

After the line was repaired and repressurized, the city issued the boil order while awaiting the results of testing of samples of the water. More sampling is scheduled.

The city has been in the planning stages for several years to rehabilitate its aging water system infrastructure. The break occurred just weeks after the city received $4.6 million in grants and loans to start that process.

For more information, people can call Chinook Mayor Keith Hanson at 406-357-3160 or contact the city officials at PO Box 1177, Chinook MT 59523.