12:45 p.m. Friday update: The boil water order for customers of Eastern Bartholomew County Water Corp. as well as all residents of Hope has been lifted.
ORIGINAL STORY
HOPE – The boil water advisory for all customers of Eastern Bartholomew County Water Corp. as well as all residents of Hope has been extended until at least noon on Friday.
Under a boil water advisory, water should be brought to a full boil for two minutes before drinking it or using it in food preparation.
The malfunction that resulted in chlorine levels lower than state standards took place at about 10 p.m. Tuesday in the Eastern Bartholomew water treatment plant. The town of Hope purchases its water at a wholesale rate from Eastern Bartholomew, and resells it to its town residents and businesses.
“Eastern personnel believe the chlorine levels are current at the plant,” utility superintendent Donnie Smith said early Thursday afternoon. “But with over 250 miles of water mains, it takes time for the water to move through the system.”
Some of those mains go to Hope, where recent tests showed the level of chlorine in Hope’s potable water supply was still below the state requirement. A chlorine level of .60 millimeters per liter is required to ensure that bacteria is killed off, Hope Utilites Superintendent David Clouse said Wednesday.
“Eastern Bartholomew water personnel have tested the water being delivered to Hope Utilities at the meter and have found that the chlorine levels are appropriate at the meter,” Smith said. “But Hope apparently has water in storage that has not yet filtered through, so it is not yet at standard. Eastern personnel are working with Hope Utilities to monitor the situation.”
Smith stated his utility issued their advisory to all of their customers as “a precautionary measure.”
