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Sigurd water operator warns of low chlorine residuals and isolated contaminated tank; council seeks fixes
Summary
A town water operator told the Sigurd Town Council that a recent line break and unrecorded changes to a new tank left large volumes of water with low chlorine residuals, requiring flushing, hydrants and disinfection work; the council discussed grants and technical help from rural water.
At the Nov. 20 meeting, a newly engaged water operator identified acute problems tied to an 8-inch pipeline break and an apparently reconfigured tank that was not reflected in as-built records. The operator said some tanks were isolated and testing found chlorine residuals as low as 0.08 parts per million — well under typical targets — and that two miles of pipe contain stagnant water that can harbor biofilm and degrade water quality.
"Well, guess what? You've got contaminated water in here now because of that break," the operator said, describing how the line change bypassed the chlorinator and filled a tank without adequate disinfection. Town staff confirmed the Division of Environmental Quality inspector, John Chartier, said he had not approved the undocumented changes to the design.
The operator recommended installing flush hydrants or drainage points and performing staged chlorination and flushing (disinfect, fill, hold, retest) to avoid reintroducing contaminants into the system. He described the practical limits: large tanks (combined hundreds of thousands of gallons) that are full and an inability to rapidly flush without wasting water or repeatedly disinfecting reservoirs.
Council members discussed funding and technical options. Staff said Parker Jones and DeMille outlined a capital-improvement approach and that the town could apply for CIB (Community Impact Board) funding next spring. Rural water offered technical support, and the council agreed to coordinate with the engineering contractor, the design firm (Ensign), and state inspectors to document as-builts, add flushing hydrants, and identify necessary disinfection steps.
What the town did and did not decide: The council did not immediately turn any tank back online or authorize emergency capital work at the Nov. 20 meeting. Staff said they were isolating affected tanks and would pursue hydrant installation and testing; they also said they would explore grant funding and legal/technical review of the design and construction records.
Background and context: The newly built tank had been intended to hold spring water but was later connected to treated water via an 8-inch line; records and approvals for that operational change appear incomplete. The operator reported prior taste complaints consistent with low chlorine residuals and asked council members to track hydrant flushing and maintenance records going forward.
Next steps: Town staff will coordinate with rural water, the state health inspector, and the contractor to plan hydrant installations and phased chlorination and flushing. The council discussed pursuing CIB funds in the spring application cycle and consulting attorneys with water-background experience if contractor or design defects lead to legal exposure.
Sources: Town water-operator presentation and council discussion during the Nov. 20, 2024 meeting; quoted technical statements recorded in meeting transcript.
