Effective 8 a.m. on Sunday, July 20, a Do Not Drink water order is in place for all City of Port Angeles water utility customers. This follows a fuel tanker accident that occurred in Indian Creek on July 18.
Water testing is currently underway as directed by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). However, some DOH-required tests involve out-of-state review, which is taking longer than expected. At this time, the City’s water reservoirs have depleted to critical levels. To maintain safe and consistent water pressure throughout the system, the City must begin producing additional water before all test results are available.
What should I do?
- Do not drink your tap water – use only bottled water. Bottled water should be used for all drinking, brushing teeth, washing dishes, making ice, and food preparation until further notice. This also applies to pets.
- Do not try to treat the water yourself. Potential contamination is chemical-related, not bacterial. Therefore boiling, freezing, filtering, adding chlorine or other disinfectants, or letting water stand will not make the water safe for consumption.
- Tap water is safe for some activities. Tap water is safe for bathing, showering, flushing toilets, and doing laundry. Please be careful not to ingest any water when showering.
This applies to all properties connected to the City’s water system, whether located inside or outside of City limits.
This alert is being issued out of an abundance of caution. It takes several hours for water at the processing facility to travel through the system and reach your tap.
Customers are being notified through Everbridge. To sign up to receive emergency alerts through Everbridge, please visit our website: www.cityofpa.us/Everbridge
Water Distribution Sites
To support the community during this time, the City will distribute potable water on Sunday, July 20. Free bottled water for drinking and cooking will be available at two locations in Port Angeles while supplies last:
- Civic Field, 307 South Race Street (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
- Shane Park, 613 South G Street (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
Supplies will be limited based on household size.
Water deliveries are being prioritized for Olympic Medical Center and other critical facilities to ensure services are maintained.
Next Steps
Please do not call 9-1-1 to receive information. We will notify you once water testing is complete as directed by DOH and the issue has been fully resolved. Additional guidance may be provided, as mandated by the DOH.
We appreciate your continued patience and cooperation. For questions related to spill response in unincorporated Clallam County, please contact the WA State Department of Ecology.