Soap Lake residents still encouraged to boil water

SOAP LAKE — A boil water advisory in Soap Lake remains in effect, four days after a water main break led to the city encouraging residents to boil their water.

The water main broke sometime on Saturday at the Third Avenue Northeast/Fern Street North intersection. As a result, all residents who are currently hooked up to the city’s water utility were urged to boil their water until the city gives notice that the water is safe. The Department of Health has been notified of the incident and a letter will be sent to residents when the water is safe to use without boiling. Mayor Raymond Gravelle said the city’s entire water system was chlorinated and flushed on Tuesday.

“Tomorrow morning (today) water samples will be hand carried to (the) Wenatchee testing lab. Results usually take 24 hours on an emergency basis. Hopefully the city will get all clear by Friday. In the meantime, residents should run water to flush their own lines,” Gravelle said on Tuesday.

The city does not have a timetable for when the boil water notice will be lifted.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.