Ephrata studies using chlorine in wells

EPHRATA — The Ephrata City Council approved an $8,000 study the possible use of  chlorine in city wells.

The city hired Gray and Osborne to conduct the study. This comes after the city found a higher level then normal of coliform bacteria in water pipes near Ivy Street Northeast in December.

Coliform bacteria are not likely to cause illness, according to the Washington state Department of Health. They can indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms.

“A chlorination system would eliminate that before it became a problem,” City Administrator Wes Crago said. “Very few cities have water as pure and clean as Ephrata’s.”

Crago said during the last construction season the city found coliform several times. The city replaced waterlines in the northeast section of the city last year.

“The issues we’re having are not related to water coming out the well. We test that separately,” he said. “It is related to stagnant water in lines or construction disturbance, which creates this background coliform.”

The last similar disturbance was the mid-1990s, Crago said.

“However, it is prudent to take a look at all the options, so you can choose between them, and this will give us a price, a method (and) different methods. It will review other cities and what they’re using for chlorination, operating costs so we can make an informed decision, which the (state) Department of Health would like use to consider,” Crago added.