March 18, 2008 — The Clear Creek Community Services District Board of Directors held a special meeting Tuesday, March 11, to discuss ways to improve its water delivery system after samples taken by the state of California tested positive for coliform bacteria. This bacterium is common in the environment and does not pose a health risk, however, it is used as an indicator of the sanitary quality of water. The state testing was prompted by a bad water sample taken from a residence during the routine, monthly testing cycle. Pat Mudrich, Clear Creek CSD manager, said the water samples are usually taken outside, but because snow currently blocks these outlets, a sample was taken from a faucet indoors. The proper sterilization was not completed before the indoor sample was taken and as a result, the sample tested positive for E. coli.

Although the E. coli was restricted to a single residence, the coliform was found in the tests taken at the spring and also at the fire house after the water was transported through a pipe to be pumped to customers.

The district began chlorinating the water Saturday, March 8, and will continue to chlorinate until the state determines it is no longer necessary.

The state of California Regional Water Quality Control has advised the Clear Creek CSD to look for grants or low interest loans to change the location of the 80-foot delivery pipe that runs from the spring to the pump house located in the fire station. Currently, the pipe is in Clear Creek Pond.

In addition, the district board decided to develop a second water source as a safety precaution. Several months ago, a representative from Durham Pump, the company that will rebuild the districts water pumps this spring, advised the district to drill a well. Originally, the board had discussed installing a water tank as a storage facility.

Mudrich said water usage in Clear Creek has gone down since the district started adding chlorine to the system. She suspects that residents are purchasing bottled water. However, the board is working to find solutions to the problem.

“We’re doing everything we can to protect our people,” said Mudrich.

A high spring run off could be the cause of coliform bacteria being found in the water samples. In July 2006, following a wet winter, small amounts of chlorine were added to the drinking water in Clear Creek after routine water samples revealed coliform bacteria in the system. The system was also chlorinated in 1993 following a very wet winter.