Eldon boil water order enters second week
ELDON, Mo. (KMIZ)
Some Eldon residents are frustrated as a boil water order is enters its second week.
Monday marked 13 days since people were asked to boil water in the city. The city issued the order on instructions from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources after a test revealed high levels of E. coli in the system on Dec. 16, the city said at the time. Positive samples were then isolated to City Hall and the Public Safety Building. Information on the DNR's website show the ordered went into effect at midnight Dec. 17.
The state said the increased bacteria presented an "acute" health risk.
Seven-year resident Anna Chick said when the order was issued, like many people, she didn't expect it would affect her holiday celebrations a week later.
“It has been a little tricky with the holidays, trying to rinse my potatoes with bottled water. And just nervous about cooking things, wondering if boiling the potatoes is going to kill the bacteria," Chick said. “I cooked for the whole family and trying to pour water out of a bottle for my gravy. It just made everything just an extra couple steps."
She said some people are angry about the continued water issues.
"But what can we do but wait,” Chick said.
Some businesses have been affected and had to reduce their menus because of water issues.
"Following Health Department guidelines, we are now able to offer all menu items except iced tea," a Sunday social media post from Brew Brothers Coffee says.
High-end equipment likes its espresso machines has to have proper water, management said. A new line was plumbed in to bypass city water in order to serve the community, and Monday was its first day back to mostly-normal operations after five days of business being affected.
“We had to wait until the next week [after the Dec. 16 test] before we could test again," City Administrator Mandy Asbury said. "We did have a positive total coliform test then, and so we had to to wait again.”
She said DNR labs then closed for the holidays and didn't open again until Monday.
“We do have samples that have been delivered to the DNR labs today," Asbury said. "And so we are hoping that within 24 hours we will have negative results. That way, we can go ahead and lift the boil order,” Asbury said.
Utility bills being adjusted for the month of December is a "burning question" in Eldon, she said.
"A lot of people are asking that, and it will be addressed at our next city council meeting in January," Asbury said. "I think a lot of people who are wondering if those bills are going to be reduced or are thinking that they're just going to be wiped clean. But that's just not realistic."
She said the average bill is about $75-$90 and that includes water, sewer and trash. The average water portion of that bill is about $25-$30.
The city has been giving out cases of water to residents at the Community Center.
Asbury said if the order is not lifted Tuesday, the city will continues to do so and provide updates on the city's social media.
