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Water pressure scare turns out to be a wash

Staff writer

A drop in water pressure affected residents on the east side of Marion for roughly half an hour last Wednesday, but both the city administrator and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment say there was nothing to worry about.

According to Kansas law, a city must issue a boil water advisory anytime its water pressure drops below 20 pounds per square inch. Contaminants such as bacteria can spread much more easily through a less pressurized water system.

Marion’s water pressure “maintained 20 psi throughout, at least according to Marion’s system,” said Jill Bronaugh, communications director at KDHE.

When asked whether KDHE had investigated the pressure itself, Bronaugh said: “There was no complaint on Wednesday or the following day, so there was not a reason to send someone to investigate. The operator information was consistent with our requirements.”

In an announcement last week, the city stated: “The city of Marion lost water pressure for a few minutes. It was due to mechanical issues. Everything has been repaired and turned back on,”

Interim City Administrator Mark McAnarney explained further.

“At the plant, a pump didn’t quite kick on,” he said. “Somebody hit it manually, and it kicked on. It just had a glitch for some reason, is what I was told.”

McAnarney reiterated that the pump has “been working ever since,” and that the pressure never fell to unsafe levels.

He added that the loss of pressure occurred at the water plant and was unrelated to the ongoing rehabilitation and repainting of Marion’s water tower.

Such water tower upkeep occurs every 30 to 40 years. The work will be completed in roughly six weeks, according to McAnarney.

Last modified Oct. 3, 2024

 

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