2A ܂ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018 ܂ APPEAL TRIBUNE
Tainted
Continued from Page 1A
“we had good results for many days fol-
lowing” the first evidence of the bloom,
Goeres-Priest said.
In other words, the bloom hadn't
turned toxic yet.
As the weather warmed, the bloom
grew and developed toxins — specifical-
ly, the cyanotoxins known as cylindros-
permopsin and microcystin.
Water samples taken on May 21 came
back with results May 23 that revealed
toxin levels high enough to trigger a
health advisory for Detroit Lake.
There is, again, nothing particularly
unusual about that.
Locals often reference the wildflow-
ers and algae blooming at the same time
of year — it's become part of life in in the
small tourist town.
Salem officials were confident
enough they issued a press release on
May 23 titled "City of Salem drinking
water remains safe to drink."
Even so, there were hints something
was different about this bloom.
Instead of one bloom — as was the
Park
case in 2017 — testing revealed toxic al-
gae in three different locations at the
lake: Blowout Arm, Heater Creek Arm
and near the dam.
More strikingly, the toxin levels were
high in Blowout Arm — the liver toxin
"microcystin" was tested at 48.21 parts
per billion. A health advisory is trig-
gered when levels are 4 parts per billion.
"It's not the highest level of toxin that
we've ever seen, but it is high," Hillwig
said.
"If you get a high enough level, the
toxins can travel a long way down-
stream, so it could make sense that
that's what happened here."
More testing, fewer answers
The toxins at Detroit Lake led to in-
creased testing by city officials, includ-
ing at Geren Island Treatment Facility
on the North Santiam River.
Those tests showed concerning data.
Tests from May 23 showed the toxin
cylindrospermopsin at 6.9 parts per bil-
lion — above the safe threshold even for
adults, according to OHA officials.
By the May 25 test, levels had
dropped to 1.9 parts per billion — safe for
adults but not for small children.
Tests of the water once it passed
through sand filters and came out Salem
of faucets were lower — though it's un-
clear how much lower. But the toxins
were there, and at levels high enough to
potentially sicken younger children,
pets and those in poor health.
City officials got results of those tests
on May 26 and 27, but didn't alert the
public until Tuesday afternoon, an issue
that's raised ire in the community.
At a press conference May 30, city of-
ficials didn't directly address why they
didn't inform the public sooner, other
than saying they didn't want to "jump
the gun" and pointing out that most se-
rious health impacts typically come af-
ter 10 days of exposure.
"We wanted to be proactive and in-
form the public because we're coming
up on the 10-day exposure period," said
Greg Walsh, emergency manager for
City of Salem. "If people are exposed to
it for 10 days that's when the probability
of health issues increases."
Next steps
City workers are continuing to collect
water quality samples to ensure the wa-
ter remains safe, officials said Saturday.
regular duties for the city.
She finally settled on a plan to pour a
stamped concrete overlook, bordered
on two sides by retaining walls and
landscape fencing and separated from
the creek below by decorative railing.
Fill dirt and new plants, such as Oregon
grape, will cap the park there, eliminat-
ing the path that once ran behind City
Hall’s parking lot.
“Sue has worked hard on this, and we
are delighted that it could be designed
in-house. She’s done a great job, and
she’s saved the city a lot of money,” Saxe
said. “Now we are going out for bid, hop-
ing to get it done in late summer or early
fall.”
Summer is the busiest time for con-
tractors, so Saxe said he hopes to secure
favorable prices by pushing ground-
breaking ‘til late in the season.
As the project begins, the city will
protect and incorporate the last onsite
chunk of concrete, with its commemo-
rative plaque, and, hopefully, later add
an information kiosk, Saxe said. Silver-
ton Lions Club is also planning to do-
nate a bench.
Once completed, the overlook will
connect to the larger 7.5-acre Old Mill
Park, which features bathrooms, a
drinking fountain, grassy areas and as-
phalt paths running between the library
and community pool.
Last year, the park’s natural grassy
amphitheater saw the first annual Fi-
scher’s Mill Music Fest, an outdoor
bluegrass, rock and folk festival. It’s
scheduled to be held there again on July
21.
Advisory
Rebecca McCoun, Executive Director of
the North Santiam Watershed Council.
Lyons and Mehama
Continued from Page 1A
Mill City
Idanha and Detroit
There have been no toxins found in
the water supply. The city has used two
municipal wells in the city for its water
supply since 2005.
Prior to that, the city got its water
from the North Santiam River.
Continued from Page 1A
The towns are above Detroit Lake.
The water supplies for those cities have
been tested and no toxins were found.
“They draw it from a tributary,” said
Y KUBOTA’S
N
A
A
The special district was awaiting re-
sults of tests of the water in the Lyons-
Mehama District, but has not issued a
health advisory about it.
The city draws its water from both
the North Santiam and South Santiam
rivers — the South Santiam breaks off
above Detroit Lake — and says its water
is fine because it’s diluted by the time it
is sent to customers.
The city is expected to build
a membrane treatment facility in
2019.
bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com or
Twitter.com/bpoehler
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Once completed, the
overlook will connect to the
larger 7.5-acre Old Mill Park,
which features bathrooms, a
drinking fountain, grassy
areas and asphalt paths
running between the library
and community pool.
Jefferson
Fax: 503-399-6706
RTV-X900WL-H
Daily sampling will continue through
Thursday. Results and algae conditions
at the reservoir will determine further
testing frequency.
Even with Salem's water now diag-
nosed with a clean bill of health, toxic
algae from Detroit Lake could be an is-
sue the city faces on a more common ba-
sis.
The city's water filtration system, de-
signed in the 1930s, is intended for a
high quality water source — and the
North Santiam has historically been ex-
cellent source water.
But if toxic blooms become more
common, and Salem's water is at greater
risk, the city could consider installing a
more robust filtration system.
Problem is, the cost of a completely
new water filtration system would be
around $200 million.
"What we're doing is the least expen-
sive way to deliver finished water to
community," said Salem Public Works
Director Peter Fernandez.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors
writer, photographer and videographer
in Oregon for 10 years. He is the author of
the book “Hiking Southern Oregon” and
can be reached at zurness@Statesman-
Journal.com or (503) 399-6801.
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