City gives update on water boil advisory

Posted Monday, May 6, 2024

Havre Public Works said Friday that it met with state officials and it was determined the water boiling advisory will remain in effect for at least two more weeks.

Havre City Council's agenda for its meeting at 7 p.m. tonight in City Hall includes an update on the recent water system advisory.

Citing what it called an abundance of caution, the city government issued a boil advisory Friday, April 19, after an increase in the illness Giardiasis in local residents, an illness caused by the water-borne parasite Giardia.

Hill County Health Department said at the time that the Havre area had a five-year average of one case of Giardiasis a year, and this year had three confirmed cases in the first quarter of the year, raising concern of a local source of the parasite.

The illnesses have not been directly linked to the Havre water supply - the parasite has not been found in the water - but because no definite source could be found and it is a water-borne illness, the boil advisory was issued.

A release from Havre Public Works said members of the department met with Montana Department of Environmental Quality Friday, May 3, to discuss the path moving forward regarding public health concerns associated with the public water supply.

"Continuing with an abundance of precaution consumers can expect the (water boiling advisory) to continue for at least two more weeks," the release said. "Over the past two weeks, flushing of water mains has been taking place by the City of Havre in areas at the ends of the distribution system and now a full system flush will be taking place.

"The City of Havre has operated at an increased level of chlorination disinfection for the past two weeks and will continue to have higher levels of chlorination disinfection, especially during full system flushing," the release added. "During the full system flushing and increased disinfection, users may likely see in their homes discolored water, such as iron, and a chlorine odor.

"One recommendation to users that experience this would be to do an in-home flush by running a kitchen sink or a hose onto grass for 15-30 minutes, which for 30 minutes from a garden hose would be about 350 gallons of water," the release continued. "Another possible result of flushing users may see is bubbly or cloudy water out of the tap or lower water pressure during or briefly following flushing.

"The City of Havre Water Treatment Plant has been working with our engineers and in consultation with Montana DEQ and (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) to make treatment process changes and improvements," the release concludes. "In (Friday) morning's discussion, the City of Havre and DEQ determined interim steps to be taken and long-term improvements being implemented to increase treatment qualities."

The advisory issued April 19 advises people not to drink any water without boiling it first. Bring all water to a boil for at least one minute, and cool before using, or use bottled water of your preference. Boiled or bottled water is advised to be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water provided by a public water supply.

"Giardia infection may be acquired without producing any symptoms, and this is often the case for children," the advisory said. "In symptomatic patients, acute diarrhea is the predominate symptom. In some instances, diarrhea may be transient and mild, passing without notice; in others diarrhea can be chronic.

"Other symptoms may include abdominal cramps, bloating, flatulence, steatorrhea (daily losses of fat in feces greater than 7 grams), weight loss, and occasional vomiting. Stools may be pale in color, greasy, and malodorous/foul-smelling. Weight loss may be significant. In some patients, symptoms may last for only 3 or 4 days, while for other patients, symptoms may last for months or years if untreated. If you experience one or more of these symptoms, contact your health care provider as soon as possible.

"If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or are elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers about precautions and methods to reduce health risks with any drinking water.

"Increased disinfection of drinking water and flushing to reduce the likeliness of pathogens throughout the distribution system are measures being taken by the City of Havre public water supply.

"The City of Havre and the Hill County Health Department will notify people when the Montana DEQ determines that the Havre public water supply has demonstrated consistent treatment that is meeting all water treatment requirements per DEQ Surface Water Treatment Regulation and has rescinded this boilwater advisory.

"General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 for those who wish to seek further information beyond this boil advisory notice."