Power outage caused low water pressure in Idaho Falls

UPDATE: 7-22-16 9 a.m.

The city of Idaho Falls reports that conclusive test results determined the city’s potable water was safe and healthy city-wide. All systems have returned to normal operation.

UPDATE: 7-20-16 1:55 p.m.

The Falls Water Company, serving an unincorporated area of Bonneville County generally east of Idaho Falls and Ammon and including part of Ammon, also experienced water pressure problems caused by the power outage.

Operations Manager Tony Wise said pressure dropped 7 p.s.i. below base levels for about five minutes, triggering precautionary water sampling.

A report on that testing was expected by Thursday afternoon. Wise said he did not expect any serious problems.

For more information contact the Falls Water Company at 522-1300.

Original Story:

The following is a press release from the City of Idaho Falls:

On July 19, 2016, the City of Idaho Falls experienced a city-wide power outage due to equipment failure at the Goshen Substation near Shelley, ID. The outage began at approximately 4:45 p.m. and lasted until approximately 7 p.m. During the outage, the automated emergency generators at select city well sites engaged to allow for a continuous supply of water.

Without power, water pressure at various locations declined to 1.5 psi below established thresholds. Records indicate this decline lasted for approximately one minute after the outage began. The on-site generators then reached full capacity and transferred power to the pumps. Following that initial minute, generators fully engaged and water pressure rebounded to acceptable levels for the remainder of the outage. The water system remained pressurized throughout the power outage.

City water personnel responded immediately to the power outage to ensure generated well sites functioned accordingly. In consultation with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and as a precautionary measure, fifteen water samples were taken at the area of the system that experienced the lowest pressures. All samples indicated safe chlorine residuals remained within the system, meaning that water quality was maintained. Full test results for these samples will be available within the next 24 hours, and the public will be notified of those results at that time.

For questions or concerns, please call the city’s Water Division at (208) 612-8471