Department of Public Works Director Larrie Ordus speaks about the Oct. 8 loss of water pressure caused by an accidental shut off to the city’s distribution system during the Oct. 15 City Council meeting.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
MELVINDALE – An inadvertent water shutoff in Detroit Oct. 8 caused a citywide water outage and drop in pressure that resulted in a two-day system-wide boil water alert.
The boil water alert was lifted Oct. 10 after sampling ascertained the safety of the water, with residents instructed to flush their hot water lines to remove any remaining contamination.
Drops in water pressure can allow bacteria to enter the water supply through the distribution system. While most bacteria are not harmful, precautionary measures are recommended.
Melvindale Mayor Nicole Shkira speaks about the Oct. 8 loss of water pressure caused by an accidental shut off to the city’s distribution system during the Oct. 15 City Council meeting.
During the water outage, children were sent home early from school.
Bottled water was distributed at the fieldhouse and senior center for those in need.
Department of Public Works Director Larrie Ordus spoke at the Oct. 15 City Council meeting about the accidental closure of a water gate, which occurred when a new hydrant along Schaefer Road near the railroad tracks was being installed. The crew incorrectly assumed that another gate was open to supply water to the city mains.
He said the water was off for about an hour, and they issued a boil water alert as a precautionary measure.
Ordus said nothing hazardous entered the water main, but backflow can occur when water lines lose pressure.
He inferred that communication between the Great Lakes Water Authority and hydrant crews could help avoid future issues.
Mayor Nicole Shkira thanked those who helped with the water situation.
“It was very unexpected,” she said. “I couldn’t understand why my phone was blowing up and I was getting all these text messages and calls saying we didn’t have water, so I called Larrie and he told me that he got to the bottom of it and that Detroit had shut off our gate to the city.”
She thanked the Community Emergency Response Team for their help, as well as other community volunteers, police officers, city employees and GLWA employees.