Tourism in Island Park not affected by boil order

ISLAND PARK, Idaho (KIFI) - A boil order in Island Park, recently put in place by the Island Park Water Company, is applicable to some residential neighborhoods but not many area businesses. 

That’s good news for a town that relies on the busy summer tourism season to sustain the area’s economy. Island Park business owners are crediting self-management of water resources with the outcome.  

"As far as the businesses are concerned, some of us have had trouble in the past and we just don't want to take any chances. And so, we've put in our own water treatment plant basically where it's constantly monitoring. This isn't cheap, but we're just investing so we don't have any issues and nobody gets sick," Sawtelle Mountain Resort manager Steve "Dutch" Dutcher said.  

Dutcher also brings up stringent DEQ water requirements Island Park businesses abide by.

"The tourism in Island Park will totally be fine and unaffected by the water. All the businesses up in Island Park are required and monitored by the DEQ to test the water regularly. And so, with full confidence, you can go to any of those businesses that are serving anything and you'll have clean, perfect water. And if there is contaminated water, you will know because they'll have to post a boil order on the front door."  

Mike Wilson is President of the Yellowstone-Teton Territory Tourism Committee and owner of the Drift Lodge and Fly shop. He says while he is just under the threshold for DEQ monitoring, he still monitors his water, and recently invested in a treatment system.

"I run 12 buildings off my well, and I am not under any definite testing requirements for DEQ. I have always taken and tested my own water. And then, with all of the changes and all of this that's been coming up in the community, one year ago I went out and replaced my well pump."  

He says part of the treatment process he uses is one of the best options for having clean water.

"I went ahead and added a full system treatment to it. And it's all my water. Everything throughout my system goes through that, through that U.V. and filtration system, which is deemed to be one of the best ways to make sure that we do not get chloroform and E coli in our water." 

Wilson says the boil order will not affect any trip to the area and emphasizes the confined areas under the advisory.

"This is an isolated issue to those three small subdivisions. It's a very small portion of Island Park. Anybody that comes up, you know...yes, you want to know where you're staying, but at the same time, you should feel comfortable that you're probably going to a safe place. This is not an Island Park area-wide problem, [it’s] isolated to a few specific subdivisions."  

Booking for the summer season is already well underway, and spots are filling up.