S moke S ignals
MARCH 1, 2016
7
Grand Ronde water nearing all-clear stage
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Although he has not yet an-
nounced that the Grand Ronde
Community Water Association
system is totally free of coliform
bacteria, Manager Karl Ekstrom
says that samples taken over the
last four months have all come
back clean.
Since samples that detected co-
liform bacteria in the water in Oc-
tober, samples taken in November,
December, January and February
have not.
Ekstrom said he takes two sam-
ples on the same day at different
points in the water system and
then sends them to a state-certiied
laboratory for testing.
This is good news for Tribal
Emergency Operations Coordinator
Jamie Baxter, who says she has
heard through the local “rumor
mill” of people concerned about pos-
sible illnesses caused by consuming
the water.
Ekstrom said the Water Asso-
ciation has not received any calls
about people getting ill, but has
received calls from customers who
do not like the residual chlorine in
the water. The chlorine was used to
clean storage tanks after October’s
positive tests.
“People out here are used to
non-chlorinated water, so a little
chlorine is noticeable,” he says.
According to Oregon Public
Health’s Drinking Water Data,
the Grand Ronde Community Wa-
ter Association has experienced
Sherif’s Advisory Team
seeking participants
Polk County Sheriff Mark Garton has formed a nine-member
Sheriff’s Advisory Team, which will review current issues relating
to law enforcement, quality-of-life issues and Sheriff’s programs.
Five members, including Tribal Council member Denise Harvey,
have already been selected. The four remaining positions will be
appointed after a selection process occurs by those already on the
team.
Citizens who are interested can turn in an application to the team,
which will review them and then make a recommendation to Garton.
Team members will be required to attend monthly/quarterly
meetings and represent their community’s concerns and provide
insight and guidance to the Sheriff’s Ofice.
New members will serve two-year terms and receive a minimum
of 10 hours of training during the irst six months of their appoint-
ment, as well as receive ongoing training. Members also must
undergo a background check because they may deal with sensitive
law enforcement information during their term.
For more information or to obtain an application, contact Garton
at Garton.mark@co.polk.or.us or call 503-623-9251, or visit www.
co.polk.or.us/ms/volunteer-application on the Internet.
positive coliform bacteria tests for
seven straight years, from 2009
through 2015.
Coliform bacteria are generally
not harmful since they are naturally
present in the environment. Howev-
er, they are used by health oficials
as an indicator of other potentially
harmful bacteria that might be pres-
ent. Follow-up testing did not ind
more harmful bacteria, such as fecal
coliform or E. coli, Ekstrom said.
Jim Solvedt, Environmental
Health supervisor with Polk Coun-
ty, said that inding coliform bac-
teria in rural water systems is not
that unusual since biomass build-
up inside the pipes is common.
“I think Karl has learned that he
has to scour the lines more often
and he is using the state-of-the-art
process of ice pigging, or running
a slurry of ice through the pipes to
knock off the biomass,” Solvedt said.
Solvedt said the Grand Ronde
Community Water Association is
one of the few systems in Oregon
that does not chlorinate and the
water originates from a spring.
“It’s a really good source of water,”
he said.
However, Solvedt warned, new
federal drinking water rules that
will require less testing but be more
punitive when coliform bacteria
is detected may eventually force
Grand Ronde to chlorinate its water.
Solvedt said Polk County has not
received any calls regarding illness-
es suspected of being caused by the
local water.
Grand Ronde Health Services
Director Kelly Rowe said Grand
Ronde Health & Wellness Center
providers have not reported any
patients suspected of getting sick
from drinking the local water.
People with speciic health concerns
who are worried about drinking water
that has coliform bacteria in it should
consult their doctor, drink bottled
water or boil their water before use. If
you choose the latter, heat the water
until bubbles come from the bottom of
the pot to the top, let it reach a rolling
boil for one minute and then let the
water cool.
The Grand Ronde Community
Water Association has more than
950 customers in the local area.
To find out more, attend a FREE Start Your Business class!
JOIN US at the Grand Ronde Adult Education Building
on the second Thursday of every month at 4PM
9615 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, OR
LEARN MORE AT:
WWW.meritnw.org
Or call 503 548-7314
If you suffer from: neck or back pain, headaches, have
been injured or seek wellness care for your family,
chiropractic care may beneÞt you!
Free Playgroup in
CALL (971) 266-3450 or go to nunleychiropractic.com to
schedule an appointment!
Grand Ronde!
*
When: Second and Fourth
Tuesday of each month 10:00 am-
11:30 am
Where: CTGR – Community
Service Center 9615 Grand Ronde
Road Grand Ronde, OR 97347
Who: Parents and caregivers of
children under 5 years.
*We accept most
insurance, including the
Why: Come to play, have a snack
and have fun!
Shasta tribal plan in
addition to cash patients.
AVAILABLE TREATMENTS:
-spinal & extremity adjustments
-soft tissue massage
-trigger point therapy
-hot packs
-therapeutic ultrasound
-electric muscle stimulation
-therapeutic exercises
Dr. Ashley Nunley, DC is a Grand
Ronde tribal member providing
chiropractic care at:
Grand Ronde Health & Wellness:
9-5 every Mon & Wed
Portland Satellite OfÞce:
9-5 every Tuesday