Apple Valley water supply at risk of fecal matter, bacteria contamination - St. George News

Apple Valley water supply at risk of fecal matter, bacteria contamination - St George News

ST. GEORGE — A system failure in the pumps that feed Apple Valley’s million-gallon tank has left 170 homes without water and resulted in the immanent potential of fecal contamination or other disease-causing bacteria entering the water system.

According to a statement released by the Town of Apple Valley, damage to the pumps caused a significant system failure, creating conditions that “may pose an imminent and substantial health risk” to those the district serves.

The initial information was posted on the town’s Facebook page shortly after 10 p.m. on Wednesday, stating that all three pumps that feed the million-gallon water tank are operating, and yet the tank is empty.

The issue was first reported to the Big Plains Special Water District, which received a call from a resident reporting they had no water shortly after 5:30 p.m., according to the town’s statement.

The water operator responded to the area and found that the pumps for two of the wells were running but were not pumping any water. Upon further inspection, the operator found that the million-gallon tank was empty. The float on the tank was stuck, which resulted in an inaccurate reading of the water level in the tank.

Further investigation revealed that the issue may have been caused by seismic activity or drilling in the area, creating a hole in the Moenkopi layer of the Aquifer. The layer is comprised of mudstone, sandstone and siltstone, which allows the water to drain from the aquifer layer from where the wells draw water.

The rupture led to a loss of pressure in the distribution system, which may cause other issues, including backpressure or a movement of water from outside the pipe to the inside through cracks, breaks or joints in the distribution system that are common in all water systems. This also left the system vulnerable to bacteria entering the distribution lines.

Following the breach, the district asked that residents utilize other potable means of bringing water to their homes, such as purchasing it from the store. They have also asked locals to turn off water heaters and other appliances that may be affected by the lack of water.

The water board is currently working with the City of St. George to transport culinary — drinkable — water into the area and arranging the transport of irrigation water for toilet flushing and other non-culinary needs.

For now, residents can bring containers to fill at the roundabout entrance into the Cedar Point subdivision. Those with RVs may fill up their water storage tanks at Apple Valley Town Hall at 1777 N. Meadowlark Dr. in Apple Valley.

Additionally, water is available for animals and can be delivered to those who contact the water district offices.

“The Big Plains Board is working tirelessly to bring water to the area with the assistance of the Town of Apple Valley,” town staff wrote, adding that they encourage residents to check on their neighbors to ensure that everyone is cared for.

The Big Plains Special Water District can be reached at 435-877-1190.

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