What it boils down to: Breaking down boil orders

We often go through our daily routines without really thinking about the underlying infrastructures around us. With the turn of a tap or faucet, clean water almost miraculously flows into our homes, however, a series of precautions is in place that work to ensure our water is safe.A “boil order,” or water advisory, is “a precautionary measure taken when the distribution system pressure drops below 20 PSI (pounds per square inch of pressure) to allow a 24 hour water test to confirm the water quality is still safe and was not affected by the depressurization event,” according to the 2010 City of Athens Annual Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report distributed to residents.

The Consumer Confidence Report recommends that whenever a boil order is issued, all water used for human consumption should be heated to a “rolling boil” for two to three minutes to kill bacteria and cooled before consumption. This includes water used for brushing teeth and making coffee, and in any icemaker Janet Barth, environmental manager of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s southeast district office in the Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, said, “Boil advisories are required if there is an acute MCL (maximum contaminant level) violation.

“Most of the boil advisories that are issued are actually just recommended by our office because of the potential for problems,” Barth said, meaning that the majority of the time, no violation has been seen in the amount of contaminants in the water.

In fact, Andy Stone, city engineer and director of public works, reported that he can recall only one occurrence of contamination in the last 30 years.

Some of the possible causes for boil orders to be issued are water-main breaks, hydrant flushing, structure fires and normal operational maintenance, according to the Consumer Confidence Report. If the water pressure drops, it creates an opportunity for backflow and siphonage to bring in contaminants.

In response to an e-mail questionnaire, Crystal Kynard, plant manager of the Athens Water Treatment Plant on West State Street, explained that coliform bacteria find their way into the water through dirt and other materials getting into the pipes.

E coli and fecal coliform bacteria are the most common forms of contamination that are found in these types of cases. If contaminated water were to be consumed, “It would cause gastro-intestinal problems, diarrhea, and things like that,” Barth said.

The Consumer Confidence Report also states that special precautions should be taken by people who may be more vulnerable to contaminants, such as people with compromised immune systems due to cancer or other health disorders, the elderly and infants.

According to EPA documents, the last five boil orders in the city of Athens were all due to water-line breaks. They occurred on June 20 in the Fairview Avenue area, June 16 in the Richland Avenue area, June 15 in the area south of Ohio Rt. 682, June 6 in the area around the Athens Mall and Abrio’s Brick Oven on East State Street, and again on June 4 in the area around the Athens Mall and Abrio’s. They were issued because the PSI dropped below 20, but none was an acute MCL violation.

Several systems are currently in place to inform residents of boil orders. Some of the local media notified about boil orders include: FM 107.7 radio, FM 105.5 radio, FM 101.5 radio, Am 970 radio, the Athens Messenger, The Athens NEWS, Messenger 12 TV station, the Government Access Channel, and all public and private schools in the area, including Ohio University, according to the Water Customers Handbook available at the Athens Department of Engineering and Public Works on 30 Curran Drive.

In addition, faxes are sent to various organizations in the community, including the Athens City-County Health Department, utilities offices and the Police Department. The information is also available online at www.ci.athens.oh.us/ boil.cfm, through individual water suppliers’ websites, Facebook, Twitter and physical signage.

John Simpson, the general manager of Le-Ax Water District serving large parts of Athens County, explained said his district uses automated phone dialers that residents can sign up for through some of the water suppliers. While many Athens residents receive notices through the city’s water department, each municipal water source is required to provide boil order notifications to its local residents throughout Athens County when necessary.

“One of the things we always hear from people is, ‘I didn’t hear it quick enough,’ and unfortunately, that’s one of the problems with getting the word out. It’s just not easy to get the information out to people in a real quick manner,” Barth said.

Despite posting fliers, using radio, television and the web, he added, “you’re always going to miss some people who didn’t hear it. We understand it´s a problem.”

Improvements in technology could help to solve this issue, according to Barth, but right now it’s still a challenge to get the information to everybody, especially in rural areas.

For more information, residents can contact their local water supplier, visit the city of Athens’ website at www.ci.athens.oh.us, or, if unsure, try calling the Boil Order Hotline at 740-594-5078.