Water shutdown in Chinook starts Wednesday, boil-order to follow

The city of Chinook will be shutting down residents’ water between 7 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. Thursday in order to repair a defective waterline with the assistance of COP Construction, and is advising people that get water through the city to prepare accordingly.

After the water is turned back on, the city will be under a boil-order and people are asked not to use the water for drinking or cooking and some other activities without boiling it first.

A release about the shutdown said the reason for the boil order is because the depressurization necessary for these repairs to take place causes an increased risk of water contamination by disease-causing organisms.

A press release from the city of Chinook received by the Havre Daily News this morning said the city will need to increase chlorine disinfection temporarily to head this potential problem off. The chlorine might cause water to have a distinct odor, which it says is normal.

It says the occurrence of disinfection byproducts will also increase, as well as the chance of contamination due to backflow, but these are temporary.

The release says that as soon as bacteriological samples are examined and the water is determined to be safe, residents will be informed.

Chinook City Clerk and Treasurer Emily Harshman said the city is hoping to get the test results Monday, April 26, so the boil-order will likely be in place for a few days.

“We’re hoping sooner, but that is what we are hearing,” she said.

In the meantime, the release says, residents must boil water for at least one minute before drinking it, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and food preparation.

People with significantly compromise immune systems, people with infants and the elderly may be at increased risk and should consult their health care providers if they have questions about safety or call the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 for more general questions about safe water consumption during this time.

The release also said problems can occur after water supplies are reinstated and if residents notice discoloration, they should run the water until it returns to being clear.

It also says if water is running through some faucets and not others, it’s likely an issue with the faucets themselves, which can probably be resolved by removing the screen and cleaning them.

For more information on the shutdown in general, residents can contact Keith Hanson or Harshman at 357-3160 or the city through its Facebook page.