(Updated) Boil order for Ireland and Jasper continues

Update 2 p.m. Thursday

Jasper Gas and Water Manager Ernie Hinkle reported the Indiana Department of Environmental Management has given the go-ahead for the plant to begin producing water again.

The city will begin flushing water Thursday afternoon around 2:30, according to Hinkle. The first in a series of tests of the new water coming from the plant will be conducted Friday morning. The city must wait 24 hours to conduct the second test of the water.

If both tests indicate the proper amounts of residual chlorine and the plant continues normal operation, the boil order could be lifted as early as Sunday morning, but could continue if any unexpected contingencies occur.

Flushing will occur through the city’s fire hydrants in different areas around town — not all fire hydrants will be flushed. The goal is to lower the level of water that may be lacking the residual chlorine. enough that it can be mixed with the new water to bring the level of the residual chlorine back up to the standards required for the boil order to be lifted.

Besides all the water in the miles of water mains, the city has two 1,000,000 gallon water towers, a 500,000 gallon water tower and a 1,000,000 gallon clearwell holding water.

Update 2 p.m.:

The boil water advisory for customers of the Jasper Water Department and the Ireland Water Utility continues.

City utility staff, outside engineers and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management have been on site since early this morning. Continued testing at the water treatment plant this afternoon indicated slight improvement in the quality of the water.

The primary issue is an increase of minerals in water coming into the plant resulting in a decrease in chlorine.  Lower levels of chlorine makes the water less safe to consume.

Jasper and Ireland water customers need to continue to boil water used for drinking, coffee, tea, powdered drinks, fountain drinks, ice, brushing teeth and washing dishes.  Here is a file with instructions regarding procedures during a boil order. Jasper Boil Order

Update 11:00 a.m. “What’s going on?”

At this time, the Jasper Municipal Water Utility is waiting for the increased manganese to flow downstream.

The city doesn’t know what caused the increase in the naturally occurring mineral but it is combining with the chlorine the city adds to the water to prevent bacteria growth. The reaction between the two elements has lowered the residual chlorine in the drinking water throughout the city.

The decreased amount of chlorine in the water creates a greater opportunity for the formation of bacteria and thus, the need to boil the water for at least five minutes.

According to Water and Gas Manager Ernie Hinkle, the water department began flushing hydrants on September 8 and noticed the normal sediment and discoloration the annual maintenance causes. Soon though, the department began to receive calls about discolored water from all over the city including areas in which they were not flushing hydrants.

The plant operators then began to examine the plant for issues and on Tuesday noticed the plant had a high turbidity problem. Turbidity is the clarity of the water and when manganese oxidizes, it changes the color of the water to rust red, black, or gray.

According to Hinkle, to decrease the turbidity of the water, the city adds chlorine but the chlorine reacts with the manganese by oxidization.  “Eventually, it got to the point where we couldn’t add enough chlorine in order to keep the chlorine residual up to the point to keep it safe for consumption,” he said.

At about 2 a.m. Wednesday, the plant manager contacted Hinkle and told him the city would need to put out a boil order because of the lack of residual chlorine in the water supply.

Mayor Terry Seitz, Utilities Manager Bud Hauersperger and Hinkle then began contacting the schools, daycares, restaurants and medical facilities in Jasper to personally notify them of the problem with the water.

Hinkle stated, since then, the city has Midwest Engineering and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management at the plant and river to determine what is causing the excess manganese. They will also examine the water treatment plant for any damages that may have occurred that will impact its performance in the immediate future.

Currently, the utility is adding a coagulant to the water to combine with the manganese so it can then be filtered out. This, however, has created new problems with the filters as they are clogging from the amount of material being removed.

Potential solutions include requesting an increase in output from the Patoka Lake Reservoir. Unfortunately, any extra water that is released will take at least two days to arrive in Jasper.

As this continues to develop, the city has stated that the boil order will last for at least three days. Officials reported that the manganese levels are lowering now but the impact on the water plant is still being examined.

Once the plant begins to produce water that does not have to be boiled, it will have to flush the system and water towers. According to Hinkle, they are coordinating those efforts with the Jasper Fire Department.

Also impacting the timeline is the testing that must be completed once the water plant is operating again; two tests of the water have to be performed 24 hours apart. Although currently, the city has a minimum of three days on the boil order, that may be extended as this continues to develop.

The water coming from the plant should be boiled for five minutes if it will be consumed. This includes water used to wash or prepare food in any way. According to the health department’s standards for food service establishments, dishwashers should not be used and all water to clean utensils should have chlorine bleach added at a ratio of six (6) drops of chlorine per one gallon of water. A slight chlorine taste will be apparent when enough has been added.

Here is a link to the Indiana State Department of Health guidelines for food service establishments during boil water orders and advisories. Jasper Boil Order

Information in the document will also provide guidance for the residents affected by the boil order.

Restaurants, convenience stores, and businesses in the city that provide fountain drinks and ice have been advised to not provide those items during the boil order. Hot drinks such as coffee and tea are not safe either unless the water is boiled before it is used to make the drinks.

Any city-supplied water source should be avoided unless the water used is boiled first. Ireland purchases water from the Jasper Water Utility and is included in the boil order.

According to authorities, home filtration systems, pitcher filters, and other devices are inadequate and all water should be boiled for five minutes.

Update 8 a.m.:

The Jasper Water Department issued a statement that water will be available to individuals that bring their own containers to the Crossroads and 2nd Avenue intersection in front of the Port of Jasper and Eastown Bowling Alley from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the boil order.

This water is from the Dubois Water System and is not affected by the current boil order.

The water department does request a limit of five gallons per individual. Special consideration for larger volumes will be given if needed by coming to the Water Filtration Plant at 825 E. Second Avenue and obtaining a voucher.

Customers are directed to call (812) 482-5252 with questions.

Original:

Jasper and Ireland residents were issued a boil advisory early Wednesday morning due to higher than normal amounts of manganese in the water coming into the Jasper Municipal Water Utility.

All water used for drinking or food preparation should be boiled for at least five minutes.

According to authorities, the water being brought into the water plant from the Patoka River has a higher than normal amount of the mineral manganese present in it. This has had an adverse effect on the level of chlorine in the drinking water.

Manganese bonds with chlorine — chlorine can also be added to the water to oxidize the manganese and clean the water— and when it oxidizes, it can turn the water rusty red or black in color.

Due to the impact the manganese is having on the water, the city has issued a precautionary boil order to customers of the utility which includes all of Jasper and Ireland.

Currently, the city is attempting to filter out the manganese but if the attempts are unsuccessful, officials say they may have to wait until the manganese levels in the river drop naturally.

The city has contacted the Indiana Department of Environmental Management concerning the situation that was discovered over night but has yet to receive a call back.

Manganese is a naturally-occurring element found in rock formations, soil, water, and air. It is an essential nutrient, in trace amounts, in all forms of life. According to authorities, the higher than normal concentration in the water for a short period of time is not necessarily a health hazard.

In response to the boil order, the Jasper School Corporation has issued an advisory to all parents that water that has been boiled will be available through the cafeterias. However, all drinking fountains will be covered up and student are advised they can bring bottled water to school until the boil order is lifted.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “manganese contamination can be sourced from two forms in the environment. Inorganic manganese compounds are used in the production of steel, batteries, ceramics, and dietary supplements. These manganese compounds are also generated as combustion products from motor vehicles and coal-burning industrial plants.”

“Organic manganese compounds are used in some pesticides, fertilizers, and in a gasoline additive called methlcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).”

The Jasper Water Department uses the Patoka River as the source of water for the city at its facility on 2nd Avenue near the river.