No contaminants found in second samples, Gervais lifts boil water notice
The city of Gervais has lifted its boil water notice after no contaminants were found in the second round of water samples tested by a Salem laboratory.
John Morgan, city manager, posted the news Thursday morning on a community Facebook page.
"Thank you for your patience as we went through this community crisis, as well as your gracious comments," Morgan said in the post on Gervais Oregon Neighbors.
The town's 2,600 residents were hopeful the notice would be lifted after four straight days of needing to boil tap water for drinking, brushing teeth, cooking and ice-making.
Waterlab Corporation in Salem found coliform bacteria in the first round of testing. The lab received new samples Wednesday.
"There's a possibility the coliform came from the faucet or sink wherever the sample was taken rather than coming from the result of negative pressure of the system," Morgan said. "This is out of an abundance of caution."
The city worked closely with Oregon Health Authority after its water system sustained damage during a Labor Day weekend thunderstorm and it imposed a boil water notice on Sunday.
More: Oregon thunderstorm damages Gervais water system, residents under boil water notice
Officials did not know whether there was a direct lightning strike on the system but said electrical components were "fried."
The city was without water for less than an hour before Public Works restored two of the system's three pumps, initially at significantly reduced pressure. But by morning, about 85% of the water pressure had been restored.
Area businesses donated pallets of water to the community, and the city distributed cases to residents.
Capi Lynn is a senior reporter for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to her at clynn@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6710.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: No contaminants found in second samples, Gervais lifts boil notice
