RYE — Town Administrator Matthew Scruton, Select Board Chair Phil Winslow, Water Superintendent Arik Jones, and the Rye Water District Commission share that the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) has lifted its boil water order for the District effective immediately.
Two consecutive lift samples were drawn from the distribution system and showed no bacterial contamination. Of the samples drawn from the wells, one well showed coliform bacteria. However, with the chlorination process currently underway, NHDES approved the boil order.
DES also is mandating that the District permanently chlorinate its water. This measure will bring Rye Water in line with the vast and overwhelming majority of public groundwater supplies not just in New Hampshire but elsewhere.
The two other water supply districts that supply customers in the Town of Rye already use permanent chlorination, which improves the reliability of the drinking water supply.
The Rye Water District has worked closely with its engineer and NHDES to develop and implement a permanent chlorination upgrade.
The Town and District will host an informational session on Sunday, Nov. 6, from 1:30- 3:30 p.m. at Rye Junior High School, 501 Washington Road. Officials will provide information and discussion of the changes to the water system operations and how they may affect consumers.
“We are incredibly grateful to our customers for their patience during the past few weeks,” Superintendent Jones said. “We invite anyone who would like more information or has questions to attend Sunday’s meeting.”
The District asks customers to take the following steps to clear their water systems:
- Flush household pipes/faucets by running each of the cold water faucets on full for at least five minutes each. If your service connection is long or complex (like in an apartment building) consider flushing for a longer period. Your building administration or landlord can advise you if longer flushing times are recommended.
- Automatic ice makers: Dump existing ice and flush by making and discarding three batches of ice cubes. Wipe down the ice bin with a disinfectant. If your water feed line to the machine is longer than 20 feet, increase to five batches.
- Hot water heaters, water coolers, in line filters, and other appliances with direct water connections or water tanks: Run enough water to completely replace at least one full volume of all lines and tanks. If your filters are near the end of their life, replace them.
- Water softeners: Run through a regeneration cycle.
- Reverse Osmosis (RO) units: Replace pre filters, and check owner’s manual.
- Replace other water filters, as they are disposable and may be contaminated. This applies especially to carbon filters and others that are near the end of their life.
The final bottled water distribution will take place from 4-6 p.m. Friday at the Fire Station, 555 Washington St.
Town Administrator Scruton, Chair Winslow, Superintendent Jones, and the Rye Water District Commission wish to recognize the following members of the leadership team: Finance Director/Assistant Town Administrator Rebecca Bergeron, Health Officer Dr. Gail Snow, Police Chief Kevin Walsh, Fire Chief Mark Cotreau, and Public Works Director Jason Rucker for their perseverance throughout the boil order.
They also wish to thank NHDES, Rye DPW, Police, and Fire Departments, Aquarian Water, and Portsmouth Water for their professionalism and assistance, and the Rye Lions Club for its generous support of the bottled water distribution program.
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