Kootenai County Water District #1 Information Site
To all Patrons:
As an extra measure of assurance, the District had taken, and sent in, water samples for testing on Tuesday after the system had recovered sufficiently. Just received Coliform test results from the lab this morning. All tests, for all zones, were good.
To All Patrons:
Thank you all for minimizing/stopping water use over the last few days. With the repair of the valve allowing the operation of the 40 HP pump beginning early this morning, along with the cleaning of Bay 2, the reservoir is now approaching half full.
Although, the reservoir is not fully recovered, the District believes that Patrons can begin to resume normal water use at this time.
During this event, DEQ has NOT REQUIRED a Boil Order, but the District has opted to take samples from the three different zones of the District and submit them for testing today as an additional measure of assurance. We will have results of those tests on Thursday.
Note: To correct some misunderstanding of the request from the District over the last few days, Patrons were asked to curtail water use. We have had several Patrons who interpreted the water use conservation request as an indication that the water was not drinkable. Working closely with DEQ and our interim licensed charge operator during these recent system failures, the District was not directed to declare that the water was not potable.
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All Patrons:
Our service provider was able to install a valve from a piece of District surplus equipment to replace the obsolete valve that failed on Saturday. The good news is that it is a newer valve and if we ever need to repair it, replacement parts are more readily available. The replacement enables the use of the 40 HP pump which can be turned on when the Contact Chamber recovers to a level that will accommodate the 40 HP pumping volume.
At this time, we are seeing the Contact Chamber level rising steadily, even with the 20 HP pump still running, so turning on the 40 HP pump is planned to happen this evening.
It is important that Patrons understand that the 20 HP pumping volume is just keeping up with current Patron demand, and cannot fill the main reservoir at the same time! When the reservoir has no water, Patrons at higher elevations lose their water service! We asked all Patrons to stop water use (or absolutely minimize use) until the main reservoir is recovered, but either Patrons are not cooperating or are still unaware that their water use is slowing the system recovery. Please help your neighbors out, and curtail water use until the District notifies everyone that the reservoir is at a sustainable level!
If you have not already done so, please subscribe to the KCWD#1 blog by filling in your email address in the box on the left of this Home page, and then activating your subscription using the link that will be sent to your email address. You will receive an email once per day if new information is posted on the KCWD#1 blog.
The KCWD1 regular Board of Directors meeting is this Wednesday February 24, 2021 at 6:00 p,m. located at 7739 E. Sunnyside Rd. Agenda is posted in the Agenda pages.
All Patrons,
20 HP pump shut off some time during the night due to a low current setting. Was put back on line at around 7:30 AM, and has been pumping water since. Reservoir still in recovery. As of 9:00 PM last night, level was not rising, possibly due to Patrons' use.
PLEASE HOLD OFF ON WATER USE UNTIL NOTIFIED BY THE DISTRICT THAT WE HAVE RECOVERED THE RESERVOIR AND PUMPING CAPABILITIES WITH WATER PRODUCTION.
Crew is in the process of cleaning Bay 2.
No update yet from valve service provider.
If you have not already done so, please subscribe to the KCWD#1 blog by filling in your email address in the box on the left of this Home page, and then activating your subscription using the link that will be sent to your email address. You will receive an email once per day if new information is posted on the KCWD#1 blog.
To All Patrons,
The 20 HP Pump is back on line as of 3:45 PM this afternoon, and is moving water into the system mains. The filter bays at this time seem to be producing enough water to the contact chamber to keep the 20 HP pump running, and since the Cla valve has been isolated, we believe that we will be able to continue to recover the system through the night.
You may begin to see water pressure later this evening, but please hold off on water use until notified that the reservoir has been substantially recovered.
We will have a service provider on site tomorrow to give us the options for repairing or replacing the Cla valve. Getting the valve working properly will allow the 40 HP pump to move more water contingent on having enough flow from the filter bays.
A crew will be cleaning Bay 2 tomorrow, but it requires another day to restart it properly before that filtered water can be routed back to the contact chamber, possibly Wednesday earliest.
If you have not already done so, please subscribe to the KCWD#1 blog by filling in your email address in the box on the left of this Home page, and then activating your subscription using the link that will be sent to your email address. You will receive an email once per day if new information is posted on the KCWD#1 blog.
Update 2:12 PM: Starter for 20 HP Pump located and service provide en route to install.
PLEASE DO NOT USE ANY WATER UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!
It has been discovered that the Cla valve diaphragm has failed at the contact chamber, and the service provider's attempt at a temporary fix did not work. The service provider is trying to expedite an overnight shipment from New York for the replacement diaphragm of the District's obsolete valve, and we are waiting for a confirmation.
The 20 HP pump starter has also failed, and we are trying to get a replacement starter installed as soon as possible. AS A RESULT, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PUMP ANY WATER INTO THE SYSTEM AT THIS TIME. When the pump is restarted, water will be able to be moved into the system through a manual process, but recovery will be slow.
IMPORTANT! EVEN IF YOU STILL HAVE SOME WATER PRESSURE, PLEASE DO NOT USE ANY WATER AT THIS TIME SO THAT WE DO NOT DE-PRESSURIZE THE SYSTEM.
UPDATE: Water service interruptions are being reported. Please curtail any unnecessary water use to allow reservoir to recover. Thank you.
To all Patrons,
Due to the pump failures yesterday and the delay on scheduled cleaning of the slow sand filter bays since the depressurization event, the production of water has been reduced and the reservoir is still at a critically low level. The pumps are still being operated manually to keep pace with slow water production. There is a crew scheduled to clean Bay 2, hopefully this afternoon. It will take a few days to bring it back online, so the District is asking that all Patrons minimize water use over the next few days to allow the system to recover.
PLEASE CONSERVE WATER USE
Update 7:45 PM: Both pumps are up and running, but will have to be manually cycled overnight to compensate for low flow rates from the sand filters. Reservoir recovery is slow, so PLEASE CONTINUE TO CONSERVE WATER USE.
Update 10:58 AM: 40 HP pump was restarted, and water is being moved to the reservoir, but it will take time for recovery (24 hours). Awaiting arrival of electrician to understand why the pumps went down and to repair.
Both of the main pumps in the Main Pump house have failed to start, and the reservoir is now at a very low level. Widespread water service interruptions are being reported. The District Electrician is on the way in to troubleshoot. Please monitor the blog for further updates.
There will be a Special Board of Directors Meeting this Thursday, February 18th, 2021 at 6:00 PM at the Fire Station located at 7739 E. Sunnyside Rd. Representative of Keller Engineering will be present to clarify the scope of work as part of the proposed Engineering Services Agreement.
Please see the agenda on the Board Meeting Agendas page.
Update: Repair of the two significant leaks has been completed, and water service was restored as of 3:00 PM this afternoon.
There are two significant active leaks on Bonanza Rd. causing water service interruption for Patrons in the Dillon Rd, Kitty Lane, Bonanza Rd. area. Repairs are under way, and estimated time of service restoration is 4:00 PM this afternoon.
As of Monday, February 1, 2021, at 2:00 PM, the last two residences had their Boil Order lifted, marking the recovery of the KCWD#1 Water System, from the depressurization event, as completed.
An Executive Session only BOD meeting will be held Tuesday February 2, 2021 at 1:00 P.M. The Agenda is posted with Idaho Codes and topic.