Well Water Gremlins Still at It
OCTOBER 21 UPDATE:
The well water gremlins have been chased out! This just in from park management:
“We just got our test results in from the well sample last Friday, and it came back negative for Total Coliform and E. Coli. So that means our well shock worked, and we have a clean water system again. We will be removing the boil water notices today and will be following up with 3 more tests the first week of November to further confirm our well is clean and safe to drink from.”
October 16, 2019
While Halloween is the time for tricks and treats, this October the gremlins of Smith Rock got an early start, messing with the well water. They’ve been putting the rangers through a series of tests and treatments for contaminants to the water that gets distributed to both the Day Use and Bivy Campground areas a couple of weeks now, prompting boil water precautions and temporary closure of the restrooms. Alas, another sample was taken Monday, October 14, and again tested positive for total coliform, even after shocking the well Friday, October 11.
Here’s the new plan from park management:
Porta-potties will be delivered again this afternoon, Wednesday October 16
The restrooms will be closed one more time as they re-shock the well with chlorine
The chlorine will stand in the well casing overnight
Flush the system the morning of Thursday, October 17
Reopen the restrooms as soon as bleach subsides
Lab retests for contaminates again on Friday, October 18
A little history from Facebook posts:
The restrooms will all be closed from Wednesday, October 16 through Thursday, October 17 until the park can ensure the concentration of bleach is not harmful to skin and eyes. They will flush the system until the water is at a safe chlorine level before they reopen them. After the restrooms are re-opened the boil notices will remain in place until they can get a clean water sample.
It may be Monday before we know, so be patient, and hug a ranger. Then do your anti-gremlin dance.