SCOTT CITY UNDER MANDATORY BOIL, CONSERVE WATER ORDER

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- Residents in Scott City, Mo., have been put under a mandatory boil water order and asked to conserve water while the city tries to clear up problems with a water well.

The issue came Thursday afternoon and took effect immediately. Residents previously had been asked to boil water as a precaution while a new well was being tested by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Water shortages and problems with dirty water have been reported since May in Scott City. The city examined its wells and found only one of them to be the problem. However, high demand for water has complicated the matter since the well is in constant use.

City crews pumped the well continuously for several days early this summer and the problem seemed to clear up, only to return later. The city then reduced production output at the well to help clear up the murky water but the demand for water made it nearly impossible to complete the work. At levels of 250-270 feet, muddy water was pumped through the well system.

Clear water was found at lower levels -- from 280-430 feet -- so city crews pulled the well pump and reset it lower, said Erika Glock, city administrator. "Again this solution was short-lived."

A new pump allowed for more production but with the increase in water demand, the condition worsened. In the past two weeks, the city installed an emergency piping system to connect a new well -- dug at 430 feet -- into the existing system.

The new well had been dug earlier in the summer but wasn't scheduled for use for several more months, Glock said. The temporary piping on the new well seemed to help and let the city keep up with demands for water. However, the new well didn't have the pumping capacity of the old well.

The new well had been professionally cleaned and the pump will be replaced at a lower level, which should solve the problem, Glock said. Although the water appears dirty, bacteria samples have been taken continually and the water poses no health threat, she said.

However, city officials issued a mandatory boil water order that will continue until further notice. The city also issued a mandatory order to conserve water until well levels are no longer critical.

For questions, contact city hall at 264-2157.