Cause of ‘cloudy’ water is undetermined

MEEKER I The recent boil order for all users of Meeker’s town water supply was the result of the discovery of “cloudy water” in certain parts of town.
Public Works Superintendent Russell Overton explained his department’s decision to issue the boil order at the June 2 Board of Trustees meeting in Meeker.
“We think we had a stagnant section (of water) that moved. We flush the fire hydrants every spring and that usually takes care of that.”
Overton said the underlying cause of the cloudy water has not been identified. “It could have been minerals,” he said.
According to Overton, the presence of bacteria in the water would have caused a change in the levels of chlorine, but that was not the case.
“The guy from the state told us we were probably overreacting, but we’d rather overreact than have a problem,” Overton stated.
A reverse 911 call to inform water users of the boil order highlighted the need for every household to register with the county’s new “CodeRed” program. By making certain landlines and cell phones are registered, residents can be assured they will be contacted by authorities via telephone in the case of a boil order or some other emergency situation.
Overton said the water main break that occurred on Park Street was not related to the boil order.
Some residents are concerned about the application of mag chloride to all the alleys in town. Trustee Rodney Gerloff asked Overton to clarify the reasons for applying the chemical to every alley.
The primary reasons, Overton explained, are for dust control and weed control. Magnesium chloride is used in a broad spectrum of industries, including anti-icing on roads and at airports, medical use, marine aquarium use, the production of tofu from soy milk, as an ingredient in baby formula, and in the storage of hydrogen for the production of hydrogen gas. The deicing crystals used on sidewalks and driveways is primarily magnesium chloride. It has been deemed less toxic to plant life and less corrosive to concrete and steel than sodium chloride, or rock salt.
In other business, the board of trustees approved a previously budgeted $3,000 line item for the Fourth of July fireworks display, sponsored by the Meeker Volunteer Fire Department. This year’s display promises to be the best yet, in honor of the 125th anniversary of Range Call.
Trustees also approved three special events liquor license permits for Columbine Home Health, Inc., during Range Call activities at the fairgrounds.
Oran Rundberg submitted a letter of interest regarding the planning commission vacancy left by Gary Hindman. The board appointed Rundberg to the seat.