Alert: Boil Water Notice for Cavendish Water Users

DRINKING WATER WARNING: BOIL WATER NOTICE

Cavendish Municipal Water System

The Cavendish Municipal Water System is experiencing higher than expected demand for water and our primary well is having difficulty in keeping up with the demand. We have conducted an investigation of this condition and it has been determined that the cause of the problem is likely a significant distribution system leak. We have engaged a consultant to help identify the the source of the problem so that we can effect the necessary repairs as quickly as possible. In order to better keep up with demand in the meanwhile, we have asked for and received DEC permission to temporarily turn on a secondary well (which is in the permit application process, but is not yet permitted). As a result of this, it is required that we issue this Boil Water Notice.

What should I do?

· DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. 
Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

· Coliforms are bacteria which are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other; potentially-harmful, bacteria may be present. We regularly test for coliform and have not had a recent positive finding for same, however, when a water system is experiencing fluctuations in water pressure or a distribution system leak, the possibility exists for bacteria and other harmful organisms to enter the water distribution system and contaminate your drinking water supply. During this repair/boil order period we will be testing more often and in more places.

· People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at

1 (800) 426-4791.

What happened? What is being done?

This Boil Water Notice must remain in effect until the water system repair is complete and the system is able to demonstrate that the quality and quantity of the drinking water meets State and Federal drinking water standards.

We will inform you when the necessary system repair has been completed, tests show no bacteria present in the drinking water supply and the Vermont DEC gives us approval to discontinue the boil order. We will strive to get the needed work on the distribution system done as quickly as possible so that this boil notice period will last only as long as is absolutely necessary.

During this period users are asked to use water conservatively until the repairs are completed and the tanks are fully replenished. Normal household activities which use water for normal washing and cleaning are not restricted, but good common-sense measures should be taken to avoid wasting water. You are requested to not wash vehicles or other non-essential water uses.

For more information, please contact Richard Svec, Town Manager at 226-7291 or Randy Shimp, Chief Water

System Operator at 226-7743 at the Town of Cavendish Municipal Water System, 37 High Street, P.O. Box 126,

Cavendish, Vermont 05142-0126. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division at (800) 823-6500.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

This information is being sent to you by the Cavendish Municipal Water System, Vermont WSID Number: 005317 .

Date distributed: April 1, 2015