By John Henderer, The Chronicle, 4/22/98
PE ELL - Town residents who heard the alarm sound last week through newspaper, radio and television reports wanted to know Tuesday why all of a sudden Pe Ell water is so dangerous.
Answer: Last week's boil-water order should have come sooner.
State and county health officials told citizens who packed into the town council meeting room they were wither new to their jobs, or were unaware of the extent of the problems until recently.
Health officials confirmed reports that tests on the town's water treatment plant have come back "satisfactory," but they said the water system's condition is generally declining.
The water tests used cannot determine whether parasites such as giardia or chryptosporidium - the worrisome bugs at issue here - are present. Instead, the tests search only for coliform bacteria.
Health officials do not test for parasites because they are costly, lengthy and essentially obsolete by the time information becomes available, said Dr. Tom Bell, Lewis County health officer. Instead, they rely on turbidity or water cloudiness analysis as a gauge for parasites.
"We're supposed to act before people get sick," Bell said. "You're adults. You can do what you're going to do. You ought to eat your green, leafy vegetables and quit smoking."
Mayor John Penberth kept citizen outbursts to a minimum throughout the three-hour meeting, but residents and town councilors occasionally took the opportunity to unload frustrations.
"Our economy is screwed up because of this," said Councilor Dolores Lee. "Our restaurants are having to go out and buy ice. You're starting this, and we don't even know if we got this stuff in our water."
"Why did it take six years to make this decision?" said a man who declined to identify himself. "if your responsibility is to look after my health, I don't think you've been doing it."
"I take responsibility for that," replied Jim McCauley, regional engineer for the state Health Department.
McCauley explained Pe Ell's troubles are largely a factor of the water sources of Lester Creek and the Chehalis River. Surface water is not naturally filtered, as is groundwater.
Residents at the meeting learned the trouble should have come as no surprise.
In October 1992, the state notified Pe ell of a new surface water treatment rule.
In May 1993, the water treatment plant received a zero filtration credit rating. subsequent tests in 1995 confirmed the filter system wasn't working satisfactorily.
In May 1996, the state placed a moratorium on new connections to the water system, except for 12 more.
In June 1996, the town council signed a consent agreement with the state to schedule water sampling, along with steps to bring the plant into compliance.
Many short-term issues were resolved, but the town fell short of terms in the order, said Ellen Winningham, state Health Department regional drinking water compliance manager.
"The town has agreed to do a lot of things, and it hasn't occurred," Winningham said.
During Tuesday's meeting, Winningham requested the mayor's signature by Friday on a new agreed order with the state. The proposed order notes past water system failures, violations and the boil-water notice.
It would require the town to, among other things, monitor for bacteria and other contaminants, make interim treatment plant improvements and justify lifting of the boil-water order with a technical report. Violating the order could bring penalties of up to $10,000 a day.
Fixing the water problems by February 2002 could cost $2.5 million, said Art Griffith, a chemical engineer with Gray & Osborne Inc., Seattle consultants. Short-term measures to help lift the boil-water order by February 1999 have been estimated at $150,000.
Griffith estimated residents could face monthly water rate increases of between $3 and $5 to fix just the immediate issues on a short-term basis.
Penberth said the town has been unsuccessful obtaining grants to pay for improvements, but Griffith and state officials said the town probably would have to obtain loans before any grants arrive.
The town still owes $117,000 on its 1970s-built sewer system and $154,000 on its water system, Penberth said.
For several years, the town has increased water rates by 5 percent annually, intending to place the money in a fund for water system repairs and upgrades. Now, the city has nothing to show for that effort.
But because of "bad bookkeeping...it just was never set aside," Penberth said.
City Attorney Bob Schroeter said this did not constitute misappropriation of funds because no one pocketed the money.
Town residents pay $48.63 every two months for water and $44.57 every two months for sewer services.
Pe Ell could cut costs on water system improvement if the state Health Department agrees to let citizens pursue a "self-help" program, in which they provide much of the labor for water system improvements, said Tony Vivolo, a Gray & Osborne principal engineer.
Town councilors took action to provide safe water near the meeting's close. They voted unanimously to buy 100 cases of water for $495 to provide to townspeople.