City Knew Water Bad 8 Days Ago Despite Boil Order, Residents Notified Only Through Mail

Rathdrum city leaders knew eight days ago that trace amounts of bacteria had been found in city water.

A second test confirmed the problem Monday.

But residents didn’t learn until Wednesday that they’d been drinking tap water that could make them nauseous or give them sore throats or diarrhea.

While state health watchdogs considered the problem serious enough to recommend boiling water, city workers notified residents with a form letter - sent through the mail.

Some residents, meanwhile, spent Thursday telephoning health officials to determine whether their illnesses resulted from bad water.

“It was ridiculous,” said angry resident Bob Stockman, who first learned of the threat at work Wednesday. “People could already have gotten sick by then.”

Even Lakeland School officials learned of the contamination by letter late Wednesday. Without time to collect bottled water for 2,600 students, they canceled classes Thursday for five schools.

But Rathdrum Public Works Director Bob Lloyd Thursday said the problem was overblown. Besides, he said, he followed federal notification guidelines.

“This is not E. coli we’re talking about,” he said. “If you touch your hand on your desk and lick your thumb, you’ve got it.”

The organism in question - coliform - is an indicator for other contaminants commonly associated with dirt. While far from deadly, it can lead to gastrointestinal distress.

The problem arose Sept. 5, when the city received results from a random tap water test that showed traces of bacteria. Results from a second test, received Sept. 9, showed the same.

“We did 13 tests and only two turned up positive,” Lloyd said.

But two bad samples trip federal guidelines and call for a boil water warning, said Tony Davis, a water quality specialist with the state’s Division of Environmental Quality. Lloyd knew that was a possibility Sept. 5.

When the contaminant was confirmed four days later, Lloyd treated the water with chlorine, which typically solves the problem.

Then he mailed a warning rather than telephone the schools. And while city leaders didn’t ask the media to help spread the warning, they did call news outlets seeking coverage of Rathdrum’s new $1 million water tank.

The delayed notice meant most residents were unaware of the heath risk for days.

When Stockman found out, he refused to brush his teeth with tap water and was angry to learn he’d been at risk for days.

“I think the public should have been told immediately,” Stockman said.

Because Environmental Protection Agency regulations give cities two weeks to publish newspaper notices and 45 days to notify residents when these organisms are found, Lloyd didn’t rush.

“I’m not going to second-guess federal regulations,” he said.

Davis agreed the city could have responded faster. While the chlorine likely solved the problem, it will be Saturday before health officials will know for certain.

“Any type of contamination has potential for the rapid spread of disease,” he said.

The school district, meanwhile, obtained bottled water and holding tanks so classes resumed today.

And “we’ve had a meeting with city officials and we’re looking forward to better communications in the future,” said assistant superintendent Ron Schmidt.

, DataTimes