The water boil advisory for Ironton Water Works customers has been lifted.

Saturday, August 21, 1999

The water boil advisory for Ironton Water Works customers has been lifted.

Bacteria test results came back negative, and water officials lifted the ban at about 11 a.m. Saturday.

"Everything’s back to normal," said Steve Collins, plant operator. "The test came back negative. The water was fine. We just wanted to make sure."

The water company experienced a loss of pressure in its pipes Thursday night after lightening caused a power outage, said Jennifer Donahue, water superintendent.

The power outage that occurred after 7 p.m. Thursday, caused a valve, which allows water from one basin to replenish water into the main basin, to close, Ms. Donahue said.

By the time water officials realized the valve was stuck closed, the main basin was almost dry and a depressurization had occurred, she said.

As a precautionary measure, the Environmental Protection Agency requires water companies to issue a boil water advisory any time a loss of pressure occurs. Depressurization could cause back flow, which would allow used water to flow back into the system, Ms. Donahue said.

Shortly after discovering the closed valve at about 10 p.m. Thursday, water company officials manually opened it and corrected the problem, she added.

The valve has never stuck closed before, and, hopefully, never will again, Collins said.

"I think they are going to wait until Monday and then get the electrician and engineer together and see what has to be done," he said. "We don’t want to go through that again."