Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Palouse mayor issues letter to community
PALOUSE — In response to recent concerns over a chemical monitoring violation notice, Palouse Mayor Tim Sievers has issued a letter reassuring residents of the safety of the city’s water supply.
The notice, which was emailed to the community, indicated a “Chemical Monitoring Violation” due to the city’s failure to submit several required water samples in 2022.
Mayor Tim Sievers clarified in his letter that the violation was solely related to the failure to report and not due to any exceeding of contaminant levels in the water.
“This happened as we were transitioning employees into new roles,” Sievers wrote. “The state requires that system users are notified of the violation within a year, which is why you all received a notice in the mail.”
Upon receiving the violation notice from the Washington State Department of Health in August 2023, the city promptly collected and submitted the necessary samples.
According to Sievers, all tests returned results well within the allowable limits for the contaminants measured.
The mayor emphasized that regular water testing has consistently shown that Palouse’s water supply meets safety standards. “The water is safe to drink,” Sievers assured residents.
Testing for arsenic, a contaminant that must be monitored every three years, will not be due again until March 2026. The next required Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acid testing is scheduled for September 2024.
“We regret the confusion and concern the notice of violation may have caused you, but you can rest assured that the water is safe to drink,” Sievers wrote.
Mayor Sievers encouraged residents with further questions to contact City Hall or Public Works Superintendent Mike Wolf.
Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.
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