Sewage fouls Lake Whatcom

CAT SIEH

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BELLINGHAM — Residents who use untreated drinking water from Lake Whatcom may be at risk after an estimated 500 gallons of wastewater leaked into Lake Whatcom from a Sudden Valley pump station early Sunday morning, Sept. 7.

Lake Whatcom Sewer District and the Whatcom County Health Department officials advise residents who drink untreated water from Lake Whatcom to boil their water for at least five minutes before drinking it until further notice.

Drinking-water customers of Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District of the city of Bellingham do not need to boil their water, according to the district.

The leak occurred when a temporary pipe used to bypass construction split about 1:45 a.m. at North Point Sewer Pump Station, on North Point Court in Sudden Valley. The 2-inch rupture was repaired about 3:20 the same morning, according to the district.

All surface waters and shallow wells can contain pathogenic bacteria at any time, the district said.