VOICE OF VASHON REPORTS THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE

Water District 19 has issued a drinking water warning to some of its customers on Friday, informing them to boil their tap water before drinking due to possible contamination caused by low pressure after an excavator struck a water main on SW 216th Street and 86th Ave SW.

During the excavator accident, the water main pipe was damaged, causing water loss and low pressure for some customers in the area, Westphal said. And although crews repaired the pipe after the accident, the Washington Department of Health requires that water be tested to ensure its safety after such accidents.

Lab results will likely be known on Tuesday, Feb. 3, and the order to boil water will hopefully be lifted at that time, if not before.

Until then, customers in the affected area are advised to boil all water to a rolling boil for one minute, and then let cool before using. According to the notification sent to customers and also posted on the district’s website, affected customers should use boiled or purchased water for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation.

“When low pressure loss occurs, contamination from the environment or from human or animal waste can be drawn into the water system,” Water District 19’s notice said. “Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms. These may pose special health risks for infants, young children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.”

Water District 19 advises customers to make sure that the district has their current telephone numbers and email addresses for future updates.

For more information, call Water District 19 at 206-463-9007, email water19@water19.com or visit water19.com.

In an ongoing effort to provide safe and reliable electric service, Puget Sound Energy and crews from Osmose Utilities Services, Inc. – a service partner of PSE – will be in areas of Vashon to perform routine power pole inspections. This maintenance work is required so PSE can assess the strength of the power pole(s) to ensure continued safety and electric service reliability.

If you do not have a power pole on your property, this work will not impact you directly. You may see Osmose trucks and personnel in the neighborhood during normal business hours.

If you do have a power pole on your property, we may require safe access to inspect the power pole(s). Here’s what you can expect:

Initial inspection:

• A crew member will knock on your door before beginning work at your property
• If you are not present and the pole(s) can be safely accessed without your assistance, the crew will proceed with the work at that time
• If you are not present and the crew cannot safely access the pole(s), a door tag will be left providing contact information of a PSE representative to discuss access details
• The work is expected to take about 30 minutes to complete and should not impact your electric service
• In some cases, pole restoration may be necessary to extend the life of a pole

If pole restoration is necessary:

• A crew will return within one to four months to reinforce the pole(s)
• Pole restoration involves mechanically placing a steel reinforcement on the pole
• If you are not present and the pole(s) can be safely accessed without your assistance, the crew will proceed with the work at that time
• If you are not present and the crew cannot safely access the pole(s), a door tag will be left providing contact information of a PSE representative to discuss access details
• The work is expected to take about 1 to 2 hours and should not impact your electric service

To learn more about the Pole Maintenance program and treatment possibilities visit PSE’s website at pse.com/poleinspection.

PSE thanks you for your patience during this routine maintenance work. It’s their goal to complete the work as quickly and efficiently as possible, while minimizing disruptions to you and your property.