Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
RIVER HEIGHTS, Utah (AP) -- The city's water system is on backup pumps after sand in the system caused the main pump to be shut down last week, but residents still are being asked to restrict water use and boil their drinking water.
The city is operating on its two backup pumps, which produce about two-thirds the normal water flow, said Kent Parker, public works director. Chlorine is being introduced into the system gradually, because the backup pumps haven't been operated in about a year and officials don't want excess amounts of the chemical in the system.
"Too much chlorine is just as bad as not enough," said Parker. "I'm testing the water every day, and I should have the chlorine balance set by the end of the week."
The city also has stopped watering City Square and asked the Cache County School District to stop watering school grounds until further notice, Parker said.
Officials still are not sure what caused the sand to enter the culinary water system. However, they believe it was something that occurred in the aquifer as opposed to a problem with the main pump.
Once city officials know what to do about the problem, they'll have the Bear River Health Department test the water before announcing it's safe, Parker said.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)