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Hayden water in question

Residents advised not to consume from tap until further notice

Friday, June 1, 2007

Steamboat Springs — Hayden residents have been advised not to drink from the town’s water supply until further notice.

Town officials issued a Tier 1 drinking water warning Thursday as a result of a problem at the town’s water plant. A Tier 1 drinking water warning means the quality of the water supply is unknown, and there is an increased chance the water could contain disease-causing organisms.

Water samples were sent for testing Thursday, and results are expected by this afternoon. Town officials went door to door with notices alerting residents and businesses about the problem. The same process will be used when the water is safe for consumption.

Residents are being advised to use bottled water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and preparing food. Officials said boiling the water won’t necessarily make it safe. The tap water still can be used for washing hands.

According to an advisory from the town, a fill valve at the Golden Meadows Pump Station was stuck open, which resulted in the water tank being nearly drained. That drainage may have caused a loss of system pressure, resulting in unknown drinking water quality in the distribution system.

Hayden resident Dawn Keller learned about the water problems when a town employee dropped off a letter at her workplace Thursday afternoon.

Keller, a mother of two children, had not yet received a notice at her residence.

“They said they’ve got to do some testing and they’ll know more in 12 hours,” Keller said Thursday afternoon.

In the meantime, Keller said she’ll make sure her children brush their teeth — and do everything else — with bottled spring water.

“I certainly don’t want anyone to get sick,” she said.

She had some bottled water at the house, but Keller said she’d have to stop at a store on her way home from work to pick up additional supplies.

Hayden Mercantile owner Bill Hayden said late Thursday afternoon that he had sold much of his available bottled water. He expected to run out of stock by the end of the day.

“We still have some cases left, and we ordered some for tomorrow, but hopefully this will resolve itself,” Hayden said.

He said the store should be restocked with water by the time it opens for business at 7 a.m. today.

“Customers seem to be taking the news well,” Hayden said. “It’s inconvenient, but what can they do?”