City of Kalama boil-water advisory rescinded

KALAMA, Wash. - City of Kalama officials are advising city water customers that it is no longer necessary to boil their drinking water. 

Officials blamed broken pipes at its reservoir for a Monday morning advisory that had residents shutting off their water heaters and running to the store for bottled water. The pipe breakages linked to freezing temperatures, and mechanical failures, reportedly emptied the city's 2-million-gallon reservoir and left most of the city without incoming water.

Authorities issued an emergency-water-use order, restricting water use by city residents, early Monday morning. This was at least the third time since January that city officials have asked its residents to conserve water.

The Daily News of Longview reported repair crews had most of the water service restored by Monday night. However, a boil order was put into effect for about 2,500 residents while health officials checked to make sure the water is safe to drink, according to the Associated Press. A City of Kalama press release issued Tuesday afternoon reports "recent test samples show the absence of coliform bacteria."

Schools were closed Tuesday in Kalama, and are expected to run as usual on Wednesday.  

Fixtures, water fountains, ice machines, soda machines and other equipment shut down or unused over the past several days can now be flushed. Flushing involves running the cold-water spigot for up to 2 minutes until the water changes from lukewarm to cold.

City of Kalama officials have set up hotlines for resident questions. The numbers are (360) 673-4554 and (360) 673-3706.

View of one of the damaged pipes in Kalama's water system: