Precautionary Boil Water Advisory Issued for Part of West Linn

WEST LINN, OR – January 16, 2024 – A weather-related equipment failure has led to potential loss of water pressure in West Linn’s Horton Water Pressure Zone. As a precaution, because crews cannot confirm system pressure was maintained above the threshold required to ensure safe drinking, the City has issued a boil water advisory for the Horton Pressure Zone. See map for exact boundaries of impacted areas, or visit https://www.publicalerts.org/water-alert/west-linn-horton-pressure-zone-boil-water-notice to search by address.

The state requires notice to be issued to impacted areas when water pressure drops below 20 pounds per square inch (PSI) because harmful bacteria could be present after a pressure loss. Although waterborne diseases are extremely rare, they can be serious. If your residence or business is in the impacted area, please proceed with the following precautions.

Disinfect water used for drinking (including water for pets), cooking, brushing teeth, rinsing contact lenses, shaving, and making ice using one of the following methods:

1. Boiling. Boil water vigorously for 2 minutes after it reaches a full boil.
2. Chlorine bleach. Use only unscented liquid chlorine bleach (granular bleach is poisonous). If water is clear, add 2 drops of bleach per quart of water (8 drops per gallon). If water is cloudy, add 4 drops per quart (16 drops per gallon). Mix well and let stand for 30 minutes.
3. Purification tablets. These are available at drug stores or camping outlets. Follow the directions on the package. Tablets become less effective with age, discard or replace after one year.
4. Use bottled water.

Water does not need to be disinfected for bathing, showering, or laundry. Dishes can be washed as long as you can use hot water, otherwise disinfect.

Pressure has been restored as of Tuesday, January 16, and the affected reservoir is refilling. Water in all other pressure zones remains safe to drink without boiling. Air may be present in pipelines, which can make noise when faucets are turned on. Please run your taps until the air finishes escaping.

Our water systems are monitored continually at all hours of the day and night, year-round, and our infrastructure is staffed to handle any pipe breaks, including those that occur because of freezing weather. Repairing pipe breaks is our highest priority. Following repair, we flush the water system to ensure water quality, and then take bacteriological samples over a 48-hour period. The lab results are reviewed, and we then issue a discontinue boil water notice.

For more information, please contact the Water Department at (503) 742-6083 or mkaatz@westlinnoregon.gov. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or the Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Services at (971) 673-0405. Please visit https://westlinnoregon.gov/westlinnready/incident-updates-boil-water-horton-zone for the latest updates, or follow us on social media.