Department of Natural Resources issues boil-water order for Chaffee

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Chaffee is under a boil-water order at least through Thursday, according to Missouri Department of Natural Resources officials.

The order was issued at 3 p.m. Tuesday, after Mike Tate, a DNR water quality specialist, discovered during an unscheduled inspection that the water system had little to no chlorine.

The state requires public water systems to include chlorine in amounts between 0.5 and 4 parts per million. Tests at the main water plant showed 2.2 ppm; but the water at city hall had zero parts per million.

Tate said the numbers don't indicate the water is hazardous, just that it there is a potential for problems.

"We'd rather err on the side of caution to make sure everybody is OK," he said.

As he spoke, city employees made phone calls to businesses to spread news of the boil-water order.

Tate said the order will stand until two consecutive days of tests show the water system is properly sanitized.

The problem started Thursday, when one of the city's public works employees, Shannon Hendrix, checked the water plant. As soon as he walked into the building, his eyes started burning. He turned on a fan and went to check the two devices that push chlorine into the water to sanitize it.

A rupture occurred in a hose on one of the chlorine pumps.

The chemical turned into what Hendrix called "green slime" and filled the air with toxic gas.

Hendrix said his chest "felt like it was collapsing." He turned the machine off and called his brother, Travis Hendrix, who is a public works employee.

Shannon Hendrix was rushed to Saint Francis Medical Center, where he was treated for breathing problems and released. He said doctors told him not to return to work until Sept. 2.

Tom Cunningham, the city councilman assigned to oversee water issues, contacted Alliance Water Resources in Cape Girardeau for mutual aid; the company sent two people to repair the system and stabilize the water quality. After inspecting both pumps and repairing one of them, Bill Pecord, an Alliance supervisor, told city officials both pumps should be replaced soon.

On Saturday, Shannon Hendrix returned to the water plant despite doctors' orders. Since the resignation of public safety director Eric Hicks earlier this month, the department, which once had eight employees and is down to three, is short-staffed. Hendrix checked on the pumps and noticed an injector hose was clogged. He turned off the machine, cleared the blockage and replace the part, which appeared to function properly.

He was on the job again Tuesday -- the department's two other employees were busy repairing an unrelated water main break -- traveling with Mayor Loretta Mohorc, Tate, Pecord and another Alliance worker, Cliff Edwards, to three sites for more testing. By 4 p.m. the main pump was functioning well enough to reflect 2.2 ppm of chlorine; but two other sites were below the minimum limit.

Tate said the DNR will work with the city as the problem is resolved. He and the Alliance workers made a series of suggestions for safe operations as well as training. Tate said small cities are beginning to develop mutual aid agreements for water systems similar to those for police and fire coverage. Pecord loaned Hendrix a safety mask until the city can buy one. Other recommendations include replacing both chlorine pumps and rebuilding the old ones for standby purposes.

Chaffee Mayor Loretta Mohorc said the city is advertising for a water department supervisor and has already received some applications. The job pays $22,800, though Mohorc said the city council may choose a different rate of pay.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127

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