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County describes quick response after Camas City boil-water order lifted within days
Summary
Environmental health staff ran repeated after-hours tests over Memorial Day weekend after chlorinator failures produced coliform hits on the Camas City municipal water system; the county said the boil order was lifted after confirmatory testing and that communications and guidance were provided to residents and businesses.
During director and board comments, health department staff described a Camas City boil-water order issued after a mechanical failure in chlorination and confirmatory tests positive for coliform bacteria. Phil (health department staff) said environmental-health staff worked over Memorial Day to run samples and perform follow-up testing and that the system was restored and the boil order removed within roughly 48–72 hours.
Phil explained the public-health guidance distributed to residents and businesses, including instructions for flushing systems, and noted the ripple effects for local businesses such as restaurants that had to suspend some operations because they could not properly sanitize equipment. He said the county and communications staff coordinated closely with Camas City officials to inform residents about risks and how to reduce exposure.
Board members asked about home testing and pets; Phil said there are no reliable over-the-counter coliform tests sold at major retailers but the county can collect and test tap samples on request. He also said private wells are a different matter and that a boil order’s recommendation to boil applies to customers of the affected municipal system rather than a blanket private-well order.
Staff praised Camas City and the environmental-health team for rapid testing and communications during the holiday weekend and said the county will provide follow-up information as needed.
