The reasons for a water problem in Ketchum last week remain unclear—unlike the water itself, which is once again free of the overly chlorinated smell and taste that it had for a few days.
The problem was first noticed on Saturday, Dec. 12, with about 50 residents calling the Ketchum Utilities Department through the following Tuesday with reports of bad-tasting water.
Ketchum Utilities Superintendent Steve Hansen said there were no safety concerns, and his department took immediate action by flushing the water system and suspending the addition of chlorine.
On Monday, Hansen said six fire hydrants at various ends of the city's water system were opened for two days, using about 1.5 million gallons to clear the pipes by last Tuesday evening.
Hansen said the department remains uncertain of what caused the problem, but that it could have been the result of a bad batch of chlorine sent from the manufacturer, which is looking into that possibility.
Another potential cause could have been 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 has been sent to a laboratory in Twin Falls and Hansen said he requested an expedited analysis, which could be returned by the end of the week.
Hansen said he greatly appreciated the understanding and patience demonstrated by residents who experienced the water problem.
Jon Duval: jduval@mtexpress.com
