Wednesday, September 26, 2012

BOIL WATER NOTICE


Public Notice for the City of Seldovia

Public Water System ID:  AK 2240707


BOIL WATER NOTICE
 

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Drinking Water Program, in conjunction with the City of Seldovia, is issuing this precautionary boil water notice (BWN) for the users of Seldovia’s community water system until further notice.   This boil water notice is being issued because Seldovia’s source water has had very high levels of turbidity (above 5.0 NTU on 9/22/2012), and our treated water has had very low chlorine residual levels (as low as 0.05 mg/L on September 25, 2012).    


High turbidity levels in our source water can interfere with adequate chlorine disinfection for our treated water.  Chlorine disinfection is needed to kill harmful micro-organisms that occur naturally in our source water.   We are not aware of any harmful bacteria in the treated water at this time; however, because the water in the distribution system has not been adequately disinfected, we are issuing this boil water notice as a precautionary measure until the water quality improves and the water can be further tested. 

What should I do?

DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for two minutes, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

        It is important to kill micro-organism in water before using it for these purposes because some of these organisms can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. These organisms may also pose a special health risk for infants, young children, and people with severely compromised immune systems.

        The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water.  If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPAs Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

What is being done?
The Seldovia water system operator is working to restore normal operation of the water treatment plant.  The turbidity levels are slowly coming down and the chlorine residual is gradually being raised.   Once treatment has been adequately restored, we will flush the main water lines and take at least four total coliform bacteria samples from the distribution system to verify that the water is safe to drink.   When DEC rescinds the boil water notice, you will be notified.   For more information, please contact the City office at (907) 234-7643 or DEC at (907) 262-3403.  
This notice is being issued by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, in conjunction with the City of Seldovia.    Date public notice distributed:  9/26/2012

Friday, September 21, 2012

Public Notice, High Turbidity levels in drinking water


IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER

City of Seldovia’s Public Water System Does Not Meet Turbidity Standards

This notice is being provided as a public education and health advisory regarding the City of Seldovia’s Public Water System.  Our water system occasionally does not meet drinking water turbidity (cloudiness) standards for an unfiltered water system.    Although this is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know about your water system’s water quality, as well as what you should do in response to this high turbidity event, and what we are doing to correct this situation.

Seldovia’s water system uses chlorine to treat the water.  We currently do not filter the water.  As a water system that does not filter the water, we are required to test the source water turbidity (cloudiness) several times each day.  Water samples taken in mid-September, 2012 were above 1.49 turbidity units, (above the standard) but are still below 5.0 NTU (maximum limit allowed). The explanation for the elevated levels is due to heavy rains. We do expect the turbidity levels to come back into acceptable range as the heavy rains cease.

Why is this notice being provided and what should I do?

This notice is being provided so that you are aware that our water system is not meeting water quality standards.  

·        This is not a boil water notice, but rather a public health advisory.  We do not know of any microbiological contamination at this time and our routine bacteria tests have shown no disease-causing organisms in the treated drinking water. 
 
·        People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.  

·        The federal Environmental Protection Agency provides the following information regarding elevated turbidity for surface water systems:  Turbidity has no known health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. These symptoms are not caused only by organisms in drinking water.   If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.  General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPAs Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Why does our water system have a turbidity problem and what is being done?

At this time, we believe that the problem of elevated turbidity originates at our source water; due to an unusually high amount of precipitation. We expect these levels to remain elevated until the rain slows. We also monitor for chlorine levels so that we can adjust the chlorine level as needed to help compensate for the elevated turbidity.  We test both the source water and the treated water for bacteria, and we are required to increase the overall number of bacteria tests taken each week when turbidity levels are elevated.  Although we have seen some elevation in the bacteria counts in the raw water samples, the bacteria test results from samples taken in the distribution system have continued to meet federal and state standards.  We will continue to monitor the water and keep you informed if any elevated risks become known.   In addition, the City of Seldovia is pursuing the option of installing filtration.  Filtration and chlorination will provide a double-barrier system which will help reduce public health risks associated with surface water sources. The City is now in the process of Filtration Plant Design.  In the meantime, we will reissue these notices on a regular basis to keep all water system users aware of the elevated turbidity problem and potential health risks. 

For more information, please contact Tim Dillon at (907) 234-7643, or by writing to P.O. Box B, Seldovia, Alaska 99663

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

This notice is being sent to you by the City of Seldovia, Public Water System ID #240707.

Date distributed: 9-21-12

city council meeting 9-26-12


AGENDA FOR A REGULAR MEETING

OF SELDOVIA CITY COUNCIL

COUNCIL CHAMBERS

September 26, 2012

7:30pm
LENT
MCINNES
PATRICK
PURPURA
ROJAS
COLBERG
 
                                                                       

A.       Call to Order & Roll Call:                                                                                     

B.       Pledge of Allegiance:

C.       Excused Absences:

D.       Agenda Approval:

E.        Approval of Minutes: Minutes of the Regular Meeting, Sept. 12, 2012

F.        Treasurer’s Report: Yes (second meeting of the month)

G.       Ordinance Introduction: None

H.       Proclamations: None

I.         Public Presentation Prior Notice:

J.         Public Presentation for Items not on Agenda:

K.       Committee and Advisory Board Reports:

L.        Unfinished Business:

1.  Ordinance 13-05, Adding To Title 15, Harbors and Boat Moorage, Section 15.04.011, Access to Harbor or Port Facilities

a.      Presentation by Staff or Council
b.      Public Presentation
c.      Council Discussion
d.      Action/Disposition

2.      Ordinance 13-06, Amending 2013 Fee Schedule, Impound Fees

a.      Presentation by Staff or Council
b.      Public Presentation
c.      Council Discussion
d.      Action/Disposition

M.      New Business:
1.      Resolution 13-05, Supporting Department of Natural Resources and Bureau of Land Management Marking and Mapping of the 17(b) Easement

a.      Presentation by Staff or Council
b.      Public Presentation
c.      Council Discussion
d.      Action/Disposition
 
N.       Informational Items Not Requiring Action: Letter to City Manager and Council, re: Jakolof Bay Float

O.       City Manager’s Report:

P.        Council and Mayor Comments Concerning Items Not on the Agenda:

Q.       Next Meeting: Special Meeting, Oct. 8, 2012, Certification of Election Results

                                    Regular Meeting, Oct. 10, 2012

R.       Adjournment:

 

* IF YOU REQUIRE SPECIAL ASSISTANCE TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE NOTIFY THE CITY OFFICE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE AND ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE

 

Posted: 9-21-12, newsletter, city bulletin board, US Post Office

Monday, September 17, 2012

Absentee voting begins Sept. 17


MUNICIPAL ELECTION


October 2, 2012

ABSENTEE VOTING BEGINS

MONDAY

 SEPTEMBER 17, 2012

Absentee By-Mail

Absentee By-Fax

 

 

AVAILABLE AT CITY OFFICE

CITY OF SELDOVIA

REGULAR ELECTION

OCTOBER 2, 2012


ABSENTEE BALLOTS WILL BE AVAILABLE

Sept. 17th

@

The City Office:

10:00AM - 4:30PM

 

 

You may vote absentee up until the day of the election. Requests for absentee-by-mail ballots must be in the City office at least 5 days before Election Day.-September 25th