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| BHC posted signs like this all over Ridgefield on Friday afternoon. The idea of posting signs to update the public had been suggested by citizens at the Public Forum on the water crisis last week. This sign is at the water pick up point outside Yanity Gym. |
[Following is the text of the notice distributed today by BHC to its Ridgefield customers]
PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER NOTICE REMOVED IN RIDGEFIELD
Dear Ridgefield Customer:
BHC Company is pleased to inform you that the Connecticut Department of Public Health agrees with us that the precautionary Boil Water Advisory for residents in BHC's Ridgefield system can be removed as of 6 p.m. Friday, July 7. You may drink, cook or otherwise ingest BHC's tap water as well as use it for other purposes without concern. You may want to let each tap run 2-3 minutes before the first use where the water is used for consumption purposes. During this transition, we will continue to provide bottled water at the Yanity Gym until 11 p.m. tonight, July 7.
While the water now meets state health standards, immune-compromised persons who are being treated for cancer or have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, elderly persons and infants, should continue to seek advice from their doctors regarding anything that they eat or drink.
On Thursday, June 29 we advised you that routine and additional test results of BHC's treated water samples confirmed that non-fecal coliform bacteria were in the Round Pond supply and Ridgefield main distribution system, causing a source water violation of the Connecticut Public Health Code. While coliform bacteria are naturally occurring in soil and the environment, its presence in tap water may indicate that the water s quality is affected. It is usually a signal to water utility and health officials to examine the water system to determine appropriate corrective actions. Although there were no health concerns or drinking water standards exceeded, it was prudent to advise boiling or use of bottled water until the coliform counts in Round Pond returned to acceptable levels. Your health and safety is and will always be our main concern.
We want to assure you that at no time did we find fecal coliform or E. coli bacteria in our distribution system. Although examination of the water system indicated that high levels of harmless coliforms were present in the receiver, and that some of them were surviving our chlorination disinfection process, at no time were bacteria found throughout the distribution system. Nevertheless, BHC, with the agreement of the state health department, issued the Boil Water Advisory Notice as a precautionary measure. We have been able to kill the bacteria by treating Round Pond with copper sulfate and by increasing the amount of chlorine that we add to the water. On July 6 we installed ultraviolet light treatment as a second disinfection barrier. The ultraviolet light treatment will remain in place until we have discontinued the use of Round Pond as a supply source.
As a precaution, we will be flushing our water lines for several hours. Flushing sometimes causes naturally occurring sediment, or rust from the bottom of pipes, to temporarily discolor the water. If this occurs in your home, allow the water to run until it's clear before you use your dishwasher or washing machine.
As a long-term solution to Ridgefield's water supply and quality issues, on July 5 we began constructing a 25,000-foot-long second-phase pipeline to bring water from our filtered main distribution system in Wilton to Ridgefield. The project, which will cost a total of $9 million when the second phase is completed, will be finished in the spring of 2001 and allow us to discontinue using Round Pond entirely.
We sincerely regret all of the inconvenience that this Boil Water Advisory has caused you. If you have any questions about this notice, or would like more water quality information, please call one of our customer service representatives at 1-800-732-9678 or visit our web site at www.bhcco.com.
Sincerely,
Janet M. Hansen
President and CEO, BHC Company
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