Everett, Wash.

Published: Friday, January 9, 2009

Some households in Snohomish told to boil water

SNOHOMISH – Snohomish officials are concerned about an apparent water main break along the Pilchuck River, said city manager Larry Bauman. City workers can’t confirm that because the water is too high.

“Much of the line runs along banks we can’t get to,” Bauman said.

The city issued a boil water notice to 93 customers affected by the apparent break. Machias Elementary School also is affected but it’s closed today.

Most of the levees appear to be holding, he said. Now, officials are looking ahead to a slow drop in water levels, a process that could take until Saturday if the rain doesn’t start again, he said.

“We have staff out there keeping an eye on things,” he said. “As the water recedes that when see start to see problems reveal themselves.”

Portions of the city’s trail system and parks are underwater and much of the area could be battered by debris or scoured by river waters, he said.

© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA