Breaking news: Belgrade says don’t drink the water

By TREVON MILLIARD, Chronicle Staff Writer

Don’t drink the water in Belgrade, at least not for a couple days.

Due to a water-pressure drop in the city’s water system, Belgrade on Thursday issued a city-wide warning n telling residents to drink only bottled water, City Manager Joe Menicucci said Thursday.

“This could all be being done for no reason,” Menicucci said, “but it’s best to be cautious.”

Fecal bacteria and some chemicals might have contaminated the water supply, according to a notice from the city. Drinking the bacteria can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms.

Menicucci said water samples are being driven to Helena for testing, but results won’t be in for possibly days.

“Don’t boil your water,” he said. “The boiling could possibly enhance the chemical.”

It’s safe to take showers, though.

The possible contamination started Aug. 5 when a sub-contractor of HKM engineering, Micro-Com, was installing new software on the computer system that monitors the city’s water storage, distribution and wastewater systems.

“He failed to put the water system back on-line after he was done,” Menicucci said.

With the city’s water wells turned off, the city kept using the water in the storage tanks, which drained the tanks and decreased water pressure.

That might have allowed some contaminated water come back down the pipes into the system, he said.

“We don’t know if that’s happened,” Menicucci said.

Just to be safe, the city is adding chlorine into the system.

“That’s being placed in the tank right now,” he said. “When you turn on your faucet, it may smell like chlorine for a while.”

The city also is asking residents to avoid using water unnecessarily n such as watering lawns or filling pools - so the chlorine can sit and clean the pipes.

Trevon Milliard can be reached at tmilliard@dailychronicle.com or 582-2657.

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