After receiving numerous complaints over the weekend regarding bad-tasting water, the Ketchum Utilities Department is investigating the cause of the problem and flushing the system's pipes to ensure that only fresh water is getting through.
Ketchum Utilities Superintendent Steve Hansen said his department began receiving calls Saturday from residents complaining of the highly chlorinated taste and smell of their drinking water. Through Tuesday, Hansen said, the department received between 50 and 60 calls.
He said tests carried out over the weekend at different points in the system showed chlorine levels that were in the "medium to upper tier" of what is usually added.
In response, the amount of chlorine added to the water was cut by half on Saturday and then suspended completely on Sunday.
"This was a taste issue, not a safety situation," Hansen said.
Hansen said the department is uncertain of what caused the problem, but that it was possibly the result of a bad batch of chlorine sent from the manufacturer.
Another possible cause is a cross-connection or back-flow problem, in which a contaminant got forced into the pipes at an unknown point in the system.
A sample of the water is being sent to a laboratory in Twin Falls, but results are not likely to be available for several days. Hansen said the manufacturer of the chlorine has been contacted and is researching the batch to check its quality.
To fix the situation, Hansen said, the city flushed the water system by opening about six fire hydrants at various ends of the system on both Monday and Tuesday.
He said the system was nearly completely clean by Monday evening, with no reports of bad taste or smell on Tuesday. However, he said there could be some lingering effects in areas where it was more difficult to flush, notably West Ketchum.
Hansen said city water is safe to drink, but residents who notice a chlorine taste or smell in their drinking water should leave their faucets open for several hours and contact his department.
Jon Duval: jduval@mtexpress.com
