Michigan residents fill council meeting after second water boil advisory

THREE OAKS, Mich. -- Residents of the Village of Three Oaks filled every seat at their Wednesday evening council meeting, looking for answers after dealing with two water boil advisories since Sept.

The current advisory went out Oct. 4, the village notifying the community that Coliform bacteria was found in their water system, and requiring residents to only drink boiled or bottled water.

Village manager Dan Faulkner explained that while their system tested positive for Coliform bacteria, it does not necessarily mean there is bacteria, but it is enough of a threat for the state of Michigan to require the advisory. He went on to explain to the village residents that they may be facing these water issues due to two possibilities.

“There are two culprits here I want to tell you, there could be, because we had the main break, we all understand that, but we also had a construction project on US 12. And when they mill, they vibrate the road, which vibrates the ground, which can stir things up,” said Faulkner.

Faulkner explained that after flushing the hydrants for the first boil advisory back in Sept., they tested positive again for possible bacteria during a routine check in Oct.

That placed the village back into advisory, where they had to introduce chlorine into the water system, flush hydrants again, and require residents to do a home flushing system, passing out information at the meeting to explain how that is done.

During the meeting, the public brought up multiple concerns, such as the cost of having to replace filters after just replacing them in the last advisory weeks ago. Others brought up the question of if this issue could happen again, given the possibility the contaminate may be in the pipes. Faulkner did not have answers to those questions, but explained the village is doing what they have been advised to do by the state.

Faulkner also explained that they tested the water again on Wednesday after the chlorine had been introduced and are waiting to see if they will still test positive Thursday. However, the Village of Three Oaks will continue to be in a water boil advisory until the state of Michigan gives official clearance.