August 28, 2023 UPDATED: Water Main Repair Update; City Issues Boil Water Notice
Late yesterday evening, Sunday, August 27th, repairs were completed on a leaking water transmission main located on the Olympic Discovery Trail. The damaged section of water main was removed and replaced at 11 p.m. Crews worked throughout the night to seal, flush and refill the main. Water samples were submitted for testing at 10 a.m. on Monday morning.
Also on Monday morning, the City’s water reservoirs were inspected. Based on current water levels and water consumption trends, staff anticipate reaching critical reservoir levels this afternoon. As a result, the City is required to put the water main into service before water sample test results have been obtained. This action requires the issuance of a Boil Water Notice.
Effective Monday, August 28th at 4 p.m., all City Water Utility customers should use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking, cooking, making ice and brushing teeth. To eliminate bacteria and other organisms that may have been introduced into the water, tap water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute. Let the water cool before using.
Tap water is safe for showering, bathing, and other household uses, including washing dishes in the dishwasher as long as the heat/sanitizing cycle and commercial dishwashing detergent are used.
If you experience brown water, please flush your water lines by running the water in a bathtub or faucet until the water runs clear.
Water analysis takes 18 hours to complete. The City anticipates receiving test results at approximately 4 a.m. on Tuesday, August 29th. The boil water notice will be lifted once satisfactory test results are received.
In addition, due to the severity of the main break, its impact on the City’s water supply, and to assist in the remediation process, Acting City Manager Calvin W. Goings has declared a state of emergency.
An update will be posted to the City’s website and Facebook Page as soon as its available. Please be assured that protecting your health and safety is our highest priority. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation.
To learn more about the water main repair, please visit www.cityofpa.us. For questions about your water service, please contact the Public Works & Utilities Department at (360) 417-4800.
August 27, 2023 UPDATED: City Working to Repair Significant Water Main Leak; Immediate Conservation Recommended
As of 8 p.m. on Sunday evening, August 27th, the contractor was prepping a new water pipe to replace the damaged section. The City is hopeful that the water main will be repaired, sealed, and backfilled by midnight tonight, August 28th. It will then take approximately two to three hours to flush, disinfect and refill the newly repaired water main. If this work remains on schedule, water samples are expected to be taken for testing at approximately 3 a.m. It will then take approximately 18 hours to receive test results.
City staff will inspect reservoir levels late tomorrow morning, Monday, August 28th. The issuance of a precautionary Boil Water Advisory will be dependent upon the reservoir levels and the amount of water conserved after the water main was isolated and shut down on Sunday afternoon.
As a reminder, the City is urging residents to limit their water usage during this time. Non-essential water uses, such as irrigation, filling of swimming pools, washing of cars, and pressure washing, are strongly discouraged.
We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation. An additional update will be provided on the City’s website and Facebook page on Monday afternoon.
August 26, 2023 ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE: City Working to Repair Significant Water Main Leak; Immediate Conservation Recommended
On Saturday, August 26th, the Public Works & Utilities Department discovered a significant leak on a 24-inch water transmission main in west Port Angeles. The affected water main serves as the connection between the City’s Water Treatment Facility and its reservoirs.
City crews have investigated the leak, located along the Olympic Discovery Trail between 18th Street and Casey Way, and secured a local contractor to make repairs on Sunday, August 27th. As of Saturday afternoon, the water main is leaking at approximately 150 gallons per minute.
On Sunday, the affected water line will be shut down midday for excavation and repairs. Prior to this work, the City of Port Angeles will ensure its water reservoirs are full. Once the water main has been isolated, the reservoirs cannot be filled again until repairs are complete.
To conserve the reservoir supply, the City is urging residents to limit water usage. Non-essential water uses, such as irrigation, filling of swimming pools, washing of cars, and pressure washing, are strongly discouraged. Repairs are expected to be complete on Sunday evening. Once this occurs, the water main will be flushed, disinfected, and water samples tested to ensure safety. Should reservoir levels drop to a critical range, the City will be required to put the water main into service before sample results have been obtained. If this occurs, a precautionary Boil Water Advisory will be issued, requiring City residents to use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking, cooking, making ice and brushing teeth.
We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation. The City is working to address this issue as quickly as possible; updates will be posted to the City’s website and Facebook page as soon as they are available. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Public Works & Utilities Department at (360) 417-4800 or email publicworks@cityofpa.us. On weekends and after 5 p.m., please contact our after-hours answering service at (360) 417-2736.