BETHEL — The Bethel Water District lifted its boil water order Wednesday.
On Dec. 22, Chair Scott Fraser of the Bethel Water District Board of Trustees spoke to citizens via Team Bethel on Facebook. He said the boil order was still in effect for those on town water.
Volunteers help the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce distribute bottled water donated by Poland Springs at 8 Station Place in Bethel after residents lost water due to a leak in the water system. John Walker Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce
“You must boil your water before you drink with it or cook with it. Bathing and laundry is fine,” said Fraser in the video. He said there is low water pressure in the system and asked customers to conserve water. When the reservoir is filled, water pressure will return, said Fraser.
A leak had occurred Dec. 21 when many residents in town had still not had their power restored from the storm that began Dec. 18. Fraser said they cannot correlate the leak with flooding. He said they believe it was a mechanical failure that caused the leak that was discovered at the end of the Parkway on the route 26 side. (opposite Davis Skate Park). Consequently, many residents were without water.
Fraser, of Bethel, delivered his public service announcements each morning for four days, except for Christmas day. He said he was personally affected, too. “I was flushing my toilet with a bucket,” he said.
On Tuesday, Dec. 26, three samples were drawn from various Bethel locations and delivered to Augusta Maine Drinking Water Program lab. Fraser said the boil order could be lifted as early as this week depending on the results.
In the meantime, Bethel Chamber of Commerce employees, Jessie Perkins, John Walker, and Cathy Howe received water donated by Poland Springs and provided the bottled water to residents affected by the crisis.
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