As of 2:15 p.m. July 30, the city has lifted its boil water advisory for those affected by last week’s water main break.

City officials said that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality had given the city the go ahead to lift the precautionary boil water advisory for city water customers in the Skyline Addition north of Riverview Drive; north of Chicago Avenue in Black Eagle; northwest of Avenue E; north to Great Bear Avenue and Eagles Crossing.

An early morning water main break on July 23 caused a drop in pressure that officials were concerned could have resulted in contamination of the city water supply, so they issued a precautionary boil water advisory for residents in the affected area.

City continuing water testing following main break, expects to lift boil advisory July 30

The city also issued a temporary water restriction in the area to aid crews in repairs. That restriction was lifted July 27.

Chris Gaub, city public works director, told The Electric on July 29 that the water main was repaired.

On July 30, city staff said they had worked with DEQ to “remedy this situation as quickly as possible. DEQ determined the water quality testing parameters, as well as the timeframe and requirements for lifting the boil advisory. City staff took daily samples at various locations throughout the area of the break to evaluate water quality. All test results complied with DEQ’s parameters,. As a result, DEQ authorized the city the lift the Boil Advisory effective immediately. Customers no longer need to boil water or consume bottled water.”

City issues precautionary boil water advisory after water main break

The affected streets and sidewalks will be repaired as the city’s schedule allows over the next few months.

The water main that broke was installed in 1960 on 32nd Avenue Northeast between 6th and 9th Streets. The cast iron pipe failed due to natural corrosion.

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The line wasn’t scheduled for repair or replacement.

Chris Gaub, city public works director, told The Electric last week that according to city records, there hadn’t been any prior breaks on this section of the line and his department will evaluate the current break to determine whether it needs to be reprioritized within the departments capital improvement plan.

The city followed DEQ’s protocol to issue the boil advisory and continue testing for seven days for chlorine.

Gaub said DEQ advised the city to issue the boil order within 24 hours and the city issued the advisory at 12:50 p.m. July 23.

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“Consuming or ingesting the water after the break is the reason for the boil water advisory. [Montana Department of Environmental Quality] advises residents who are going to ingest or consume the water to boil the water. Portable filters such as Britta or similar will provide protection, but not refrigerator filters. They are generally for sediment filtration only,” Gaub said.

Cascade County closed the fill station on 36th Street until the boil order is over.

In the meantime, customers had to use an alternate location, such as a private fill station or Cascade County fill stations as follows:

• 1100 21st Ave. S.
• 1615 8th Ave. N.W.

The drop in pressure only affected the area with boil order, but not the system as a whole.

The water tower in that area lost pressure and the rest of the system maintained pressure so back-contamination wouldn’t occur, Gaub said.

Gaub said the advisory applies to water being consumed by humans and DEQ didn’t specify provisions for pets.

For questions or concerns, contact the city’s utilities division at 406-727-8045 or the city water plant at 406-727-1325.