A water-main break in Port Townsend's historic old-town district forced all restaurants on the city water system to close on Monday.
Seattle Times staff reporter
A water-main break in Port Townsend's historic old-town district forced all restaurants on the city water system to close on Monday.
The break appears to have stirred rust sediment through the system, causing brownish water to spill from taps. As a result, the Jefferson County public-health officer closed all eating and drinking businesses and issued an advisory to residents to boil their water or drink bottled water, said Jean Baldwin, director of Jefferson County Public Health.
Water main breaks elsewhere shut off water to the city of Kalama, south of Longview, and to the Forest Grove Mobile Home Park northwest of Marysville.
In Kalama, Cowlitz County, a water-main break drained a reservoir, causing health officials to issue a boil-water advisory. Schools and some businesses were shut down, but water service to about 2,500 customers was restored before noon on Monday, according to the Longview Daily News.
At the mobile-home park, where a water main burst during a recent cold snap, the 69 residents have been without water since late last week, according to the state Department of Health.
In Port Townsend, the break occurred in a water-main coupling on Water Street in the city's tourist district, said City Manager David Timmons. The break disrupted water pressure throughout the system, stirring sediment.
"It's a big inconvenience on a lot of people," said Timmons. "It's unfortunate. We did everything we could to avoid it, but it is mother nature at work."
Water samples are being tested, with results expected Tuesday afternoon, Baldwin said. Until then, restaurants will remain closed and the boil-water advisory will remain in place. Hospitals, nursing homes and other entities that serve food have been advised to use only sanitized water, Baldwin said.
Jonathan Martin: 206-464-2605 or jmartin@seattletimes.com
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