WATER UPDATE for June 14

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN OFFICIAL RELEASE
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, MARION RESERVOIR



All swim beaches have been closed at the reservoir. Signs advising lake visitors not to swim or wade and to avoid water contact have been posted at the boat ramps and gatehouses. However, the other recreational facilities are fully operational. This includes all campsites, and all boat ramps including the one at Hillsboro Cove.



Lake visitors are to avoid contact with the water through swimming, wading, skiing, and tubing.



All boat ramps are open. Boating is not restricted.



All campsites are operational.



The water in our facilities for drinking and showering comes from a rural water district. Its source is water wells and not the reservoir.



Campers who wish to cancel campsite reservations should contact the National Recreation Reservation Service at 1-877-444-6777. Cancellation fees are being waived.





CITY OF HILLSBORO



We continue to advise our customers that the water at their tap is safe for human and animal consumption. It is being trucked in to Hillsboro from two different sources.



We are also continuing our Mandatory Emergency Water Conservation Plan to limit the amount of water that has to be delivered for our customers to use.



We have set up a point at the community composting site where customers can get water for free for their gardens and non-potable use. It is not treated for drinking water purposes and comes from a well that the city owns for other purposes. No containers are provided, customers will have to bring their own containers.



Our laboratory analysis is expected within a day or two. The analysis is a complicated procedure as well as time consuming. The laboratory itself has put this testing on high priority and they have people working around the clock to get results to us quickly.



We are very pleased at how well all the organizations have come together to help solve this problem. Our customers have been supportive and have made a conscious effort to conserve as much as possible.



Our local papers have waived log-in and subscription requirements and access to their Web sites will be free to the citizens. You can access these updates at the following Web sites: www.marionrecord.com, old.hillsborofreepress.com, www.peabodykansas.com, www.starj.com



If citizens do not have access to the Web site, they can pick up the same information at the front counter at city hall.



The Salvation Army is making bottled drinking water available to the citizens of Hillsboro, Peabody, and Marion. The water is available by request from those cities, and at this time has not been needed, and thus has not been requested.

      



CITY OF PEABODY



Water at the tap is safe to drink, although they are still implementing their Mandatory Emergency Water Conservation program.



They are pleased with community response and conservation efforts.



Some water being used is being pulled from stand-by wells the city has maintained since beginning purchasing water from the City of Hillsboro. A permit has been maintained by the city for use of that well and it is being treated and is safe for consumption





CITY OF MARION



The City of Marion is currently drawing from our raw water alternative source at Mud Creek. Due to our current demand we are subsidizing this source by trucking raw water from the Marion County Lake into our plant for treatment and distribution.



There are no plans to draw raw water from Marion Reservoir until we are assured it is safe to do so.



The raw water we are currently introducing into our plant for treatment has been tested and is determined to be a safe source therefore our treated water is safe to consume. If need be we can continue this process indefinitely.



We will continue our current procedures until such time we are assured it is safe to draw raw water from Marion Reservoir.



We are still asking our consumers to conserve usage at this time in case of a fire emergency. These conservation measures include:



Sprinkling of water on lawns, shrubs, trees or gardens



Washing automobiles



Use of water in swimming pools, fountains and evaporative air conditioning systems



Waste of water



The City of Marion’s goal continues to be to provide treated water to our customers.





KANSAS DEPT. OF WILDLIFE & PARKS



Kansas Wildlife & Parks will have an update on Monday June 16.

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