Water Update

Just to update you on our water situation....

We first started with Stage 1 "RED" of the water treatment process on Wednesday, March 26th.  These were our restrictions:

DO NOT USE city water for any purpose other than flushing your toilet.

- Do not drink city water

- Do not use city water for food preparation

- Do not use city water to prepare baby formula

- Do not use city water to bathe or shower

- Do not use city water to brush your teeth or clean your dentures

- Do not use city water for pets, fish tanks or plants

- Do not use your washing machine

- Do not dump any cleaning chemicals down any drains

During Stage 1 the following Public Health concern may exist:

Citizens may experience skin, eye, or other irritation from exposure to the high-concentrated chlorinated water.  If signs of irritation occur, immediately rinse irritated areas with bottled water.  If the irritation continues or spreads contact your health care provider for follow up care.

School was cancelled Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  If you have been reading our blog you know that we left town to go to Albuquerque (see below).  When we got back we were still in Stage 1 with notices for Stage 2 "YELLOW" beginning to be dispersed.  On Monday, March 31st we recieved our Stage 2 notice which states as follows....

You can use city water for the following:

- Sponge bathes or brief showers only in luke-warm (not hot) water is encouraged

- Flushing your toilets

DO NOT USE CITY WATER FOR THESE PURPOSES:

- Do not drink city water

- Do not use city water to bathe infants or senior citizens

- Do not use city water for food preparation

- Do not use city water to prepare baby formula

- Do not use city water to brush your teeth or clean your dentures

- Do not use city water for pets, fish tanks or plants

- Do not use your dishwasher

- Do not use your washing machine

- Do not dump any cleaning chemicals down any drains

During Stage 2 the following Public Health concern may exist:

#1: Young children, senior citizens or individuals with sensitive skin may experience skin, eye, or other irritation from the chlorine.  Limit their exposure during this period.  If signs of irritation occur, rinse irritated areas with bottled water.  If the irritation continues or spreads contact your health care provide for follow up care.

#2: Do not use city water to clean any open sores or wounds

#3: Citizens that are sensitive to chlorine should avoid turning faucets on during the stage 2 process.

Although, we were told not to use our dishwashers and washers, we were asked to run them to help get the chlorine through the system.

As of today we have been okayed to use city water to wash clothes.

We have plenty of water and doing well.  None of have gotten sick or had any problems other than the inconvenience of the whole situation.  We are hoping to make it to Stage 3 "Green" soon.