'Cloudy' water makes a short, safe appearance

Last week, some Wasco residents noticed cloudy water coming from their taps. The city quickly identified the issue, which was linked to the reopening of a well that had been undergoing repairs.

According to City Manager Scott Hurlbert, when the well was brought back online, it is likely that sediment that had settled in the system was disturbed and released into the water supply, causing the cloudiness. While the water looked unusual, Hurlbert assured residents that it had been fully tested prior to bringing the well back online and was safe to drink and use, as it met all routine safety standards. The city received approximately 12 calls, primarily from the northern part of town.

Although the water was described as "cloudy," Hurlbert stated, "I did not personally see the reported ‘cloudy' water. Residents used that term, and perhaps 'murky' when reporting the situation.

“To address the concerns, the city took action by taking the well offline and performing field tests for chlorine residuals, which indicated no bacteriological issues. Hurlbert explained that the cloudy water was likely caused by the opening and closing of valves that had isolated the well during repairs and the well repair itself, which disturbed the sediment. The city took the well offline and conducted routine weekly testing to provide further reassurance.

All test results confirmed the water cloudiness was purely cosmetic and the water was safe. Residents who notice cloudy water were encouraged to run their faucets until the water cleared or contact Public Works for assistance. Hurlbert emphasized that the city takes every call seriously and has staff ready to respond to any concern.

The well is offline and continues to be flushed to ensure no further cloudiness. Hurlbert reported that no further calls or complaints have been received as of Tuesday. Regarding additional testing on the water supply, he added that scheduled weekly testing was conducted last Wednesday, with all negative results finding no contamination.

In terms of long-term measures the city is considering to prevent similar issues from occurring when reopening wells or conducting repairs in the future, he said, "Standard flushing and testing of well samples are sufficient to ensure safe water quality. In rare cases, sediment can be dislodged, as happened in this case." The well remains offline with continued flushing to ensure clarity.