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NIBLEY, Cache County — Nibley city officials lifted the “do-not-drink” order Tuesday morning after a diesel fuel spill contaminated the water for almost a week.
The contamination was reported on April 22 and residents were “ordered not to drink, cook with or bathe in culinary water” after diesel fuel was discovered in the city spring, according to Nibley city officials.
The presence of diesel likely resulted from a farming vehicle that tipped over and spilled fuel in a small wreck Saturday, according to David Zook, Nibley city manager. Nibley's other water sources, both deep water wells, were not affected.
As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, residents were advised that they could resume normal use of the water from the city’s system after they flush the water pipes in their residence, according to city officials. Experts said that water users may still notice an odor or taste of diesel fuel in the system for awhile, but diesel fuel was not detectable on lab tests.
The city provided instructions of how to correctly flush their pipes and said that it only needs to be completed once. However, if residents detect the taste or odor of diesel fuel, they can flush the water pipes in their home again.
City officials said they took steps to cleanse the water including flushing, testing, chlorination and bacteriological testing.
“Nibley City's goal has been to provide clean, safe drinking water to residents as soon as possible,” according to a statement from city officials. “The city has been taking steps to ensure the system is clean… The chlorine levels have been tested at multiple locations throughout the city and are within normal limits. However, some residents have noticed a higher-than-normal chlorine smell. This is a normal occurrence.”
Officials said residents may also notice white absorbent booms placed throughout the city near fire hydrants and storm drains. The booms were placed to “soak up any contaminants that may have been in (the) water being flushed from the system,” city officials said.
Residents may also notice sediment or sandy materials in their sink or bathtubs, as a result from the flushing, and officials said it is a normal occurrence.
