Bay Cleaning scheduled for Thursday, August 10, 2023 - Turn off landscape watering!

The SSF Bay that was cleaned a few weeks ago, has once again stopped performing due to the build-up phenomenon we observed previously.  The District will clean this SSF Bay again, with a different process that seems to have worked better on the recent Bay that was cleaned.

In addition, August 17, 2023, a special cleaning of the well below the raw water intake pumps is scheduled, as we believe that this may be the major contributor to these rapid build-ups of the hard sediment layer that is causing the fast deterioration of water flow through the SSF Bays.

We are asking that all Patrons conserve their water use by turning off all landscape watering beginning today, and through Saturday, August 12, 2023, so that the system is prepared to handle household water demand as we take this SSF Bay offline on Wednesday evening.

System Update: Wednesday, August 2, 2023

The second SSF bay which was cleaned on Monday is back online, and System operations have improved.  Thank you for keeping your water use down through this morning, as it has allowed the system to recover to full levels in both the clear well and reservoir as of mid-morning.

The remaining SSF bay is scheduled to be cleaned at the end of this week, but the District has to get final confirmation that the additional labor they need will be available on this schedule.

Water use can return to "normal", on the odd/even landscape watering.  Please do not double up your watering times to "make up" for the odd/even watering schedule.  The clay soil in this area actually is better watered for short durations at multiple times during the early morning and evening, as it saturates quickly, and either runs off or is evaporated, and does not require a total of twice the amount of water if you were watering once or twice a day.

The District is also investigating and working on a plan, with DEQ and our Engineering firm, to identify services and compliance requirements with all environmental regulations, to clean the "well" under the raw water intake pumps, as we believe that this may be a major contribution to the faster than normal build-up on the SSF's which is reducing the system's ability to filter a sufficient amount of raw water over a longer interval between cleanings.  Updates will be posted to this blog site as the plan is finalized.

System in Recovery

Update 2:00 PM, Tuesday, August 1, 2023:  Thank you to all the Patrons for conserving on water use over the evening last night and into today.  Although there was a draw down in the reservoir, it was less than the last two previous days, and the system was able to hold levels.  The second (previous blog stated it was the third bay cleaned in error; now corrected) SSF bay that was cleaned should come back on line this evening and the two cleaned bays should be able to  recover the system completely and handle a "normal" demand as long as District Patrons stick to the odd/even day watering schedule for the rest of the season.

Please check back to this blog this evening to confirm the lifting of the water use restrictions beginning tonight.

NOTE:  The third bay is scheduled to be cleaned, but with two bays running well, there should not be a need for additional water use restrictions during this process.

24 Hour Emergency Water Use Conservation

Transcript of Emergency Phone Call Monday, July 31, 2023, 5:00 PM

This message is from the Kootenai County Water District No. 1 Board of Directors.

The second bay was cleaned today, and unfortunately, we are seeing a very high consumption of water, including Patrons who have ignored the restriction on landscape watering.  The result is the system is at seriously low levels in the contact chamber and reservoir, despite having potable water trucks delivering to the contact chamber all day.  We are now at high risk of the reservoir dropping to critically low levels overnight, without the ability to recover. 

As requested before, we need everyone’s cooperation to turn off all outside landscape watering immediately for the next 24 hours at a minimum, along with conserving use of water to essentials only.

If you received a door tag notifying you of non-compliance from the District during this last call to turn off landscape watering, please comply now with this urgent conservation request.

The District will also be monitoring the District areas during the next 24 hours to enforce the conservation in order to avoid a serious loss of pressure in the distribution system that could lead to possible contamination and a boil order for all Patrons.

As not all Patrons may be reached by this emergency call, please let your neighbors know what is happening when you see them.

Please check the KCWD#1 blog at www.kcwd1.blogspot.com for further, and updated, information. 

Thank you.

Water System Update 2:30 PM, Friday, July 28, 2023

The cleaned bay is performing better than expected, and at this time the District is clarifying that "essential use" of water is to include normal household use:  Cooking, Laundry, Dishes, Showers and toilet use, watering of food gardens (hold off on ornamental and landscape watering until the third SSF bay is cleaned and back online!), and, of course, water for pets and livestock.

Thank you to all Patrons that are, and are continuing to, conserve on their water use.  Based upon the numbers we are seeing at the plant, there has been widespread cooperation, and it has made a huge impact on the District's ability to keep water flowing to all Patrons.

Please continue to monitor the blog for any new information and updates on water use.

Update on Bay Cleaning/Water Use Restrictions

One Slow Sand Filter (SSF) bay has been cleaned, but is still in the flushing process to enable bringing it back online.  It is anticipated to be brought back online later tonight.  The District is still having to supplement water production with daily potable water trucks (Note:  the largest truck holds 3500 gallons; compare that to the system reservoir that holds 100,000 gallons) coming multiple times to fill the contact chamber to keep the reservoir from going to a critically low level.

The next SSF bay to be cleaned will begin Monday, with it going offline Sunday evening to start the draining process down to the level required for the cleaning process.

Because we still do not have enough production of filtered water (even with the clean bay going back online tonight) to meet the normally high demand at this time of the year, please continue to minimize water use to essentials only, including turning OFF all outside landscape watering, until we get the second bay cleaned and back online.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping ensure that we keep this critical system running to provide essential water needs for all of the District Customers.

As new information becomes available, or there is a change in the waters system status, the District will post that information to this blog.

Thank you.

EMERGENCY NOTICE RESTRICT WATERING

Transcript of Emergency Call at 11:25 AM.:

Phone Message July 25, 2023 11:25 AM

This message is from the Kootenai County Water District No. 1 Board of Directors.

We are seeing an unusual buildup on the sand filters that is inhibiting water flow, reducing the potable water that the system can filter.  The District will be doing two successive emergency sand filter bay cleanings beginning tomorrow morning, only taking one bay off at a time.  Please turn off all outside watering and reduce water use to essential needs only effective immediately until further notice.  The best case will be a 72 hour restriction, but may have to be extended.

At this time, the District is trucking in potable water to barely keep water levels in the contact chamber and the reservoir from dropping to critically low levels. 

We need everyone’s cooperation.  As not all Patrons may be reached by this emergency call, please let your neighbors know what is happening when you see them.

Please check the KCWD#1 blog at www.kcwd1.blogspot.com for further, and updated, information. 

Thank you.

_______________________________________________

WE ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS AT THE SAND FILTRATION PLANT.  WE ARE ASKING ALL PATRONS TO RESTRICT WATER USAGE.  THE BAYS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS AT THE SAND FILTRATION PLANT.  THE PLANT OPERATOR IS HAVING PORTABLE WATER BROUGHT IN TO TRY AND KEEP THE RESERVOIR LEVELS UP.  PLEASE RESTRICT ALL WATER USAGE INSIDE AND NO OUTSIDE WATERING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.