Park City neighborhood under boil water advisory – KTVQ

Water Contamination Incident Report: Park City

Incident Summary

• Date of Notice: November 15
• Location: A two-block radius of Original Townsite Block 83, Park City
• Issuing Authority: Stillwater County
• Nature of Contamination: Detection of coliform bacteria in a neighborhood well system.

Public Health Advisory and Impact on Community Well-being

A public health advisory has been issued for residents and businesses within the affected area. The following directives are in place to mitigate health risks:

1. A boil water notice is in effect for all well water.
2. Consumption of untreated well water is strictly prohibited.
3. The use of bottled water is recommended as a safe alternative.
4. Affected well systems require professional shock chlorination treatment to ensure decontamination.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This local water contamination event directly relates to several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting challenges in local infrastructure and public health systems.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The incident underscores a critical lapse in providing safe drinking water, directly challenging the objective of Target 6.1 (achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all). The presence of coliform bacteria points to a need for improved water quality monitoring and treatment, in line with Target 6.3 (improve water quality by reducing pollution).
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The contamination poses a direct threat to public health, potentially leading to waterborne diseases. This situation conflicts with Target 3.9 (substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from water pollution and contamination). The county’s advisory is a crucial measure to protect community health and prevent illness.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Access to basic services, including safe water, is a cornerstone of sustainable communities (Target 11.1). This failure in the water system reveals a vulnerability in local infrastructure that compromises the safety and resilience of the Park City community.

Official Recommendations and Contact Information

To address the contamination and ensure public safety, the following actions are advised:

1. Strictly adhere to the boil water advisory until it is officially lifted.
2. Arrange for professional sanitation and shock chlorination of private well systems.
3. Utilize well-testing kits to confirm water safety after treatment.
4. For further guidance on sanitation or to obtain well-testing kits, contact Stillwater County at 406-322-8055.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This goal is directly addressed as the central issue of the article is the contamination of a local water supply. The article states, “there is a contamination of coliform bacteria within a two-block radius of Original Townsite Block 83,” which highlights a failure in providing safe drinking water, a key component of SDG 6.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal is connected because consuming contaminated water poses a significant health risk to the population. The advisory for residents to “boil their well water” or use “bottled drinking water” is a public health measure aimed at preventing waterborne illnesses, which aligns with the objective of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

   The article demonstrates a localized failure to meet this target. The discovery of “coliform bacteria” in the well system means the water is not safe for consumption, and residents in the affected area temporarily lack access to safe drinking water directly from their taps. The need for “proper shock chlorination treatment” underscores the effort required to restore the water supply to a safe state, in line with this target.

2. Target 3.9: Substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

   The presence of coliform bacteria is a form of water contamination that can lead to severe illnesses. The entire public notice and the recommended actions are preventative measures to avoid the negative health outcomes described in this target. The advisory is a direct response to a threat of illness from water pollution.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.

  The article implies a negative status for this indicator in the affected area. The water is explicitly unsafe due to “contamination of coliform bacteria.” The provision of “well-testing kits” by the county is a direct method for gathering data related to this indicator, as it measures the quality and safety of the drinking water source.

• Indicator 3.9.2: Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene.

  While the article does not mention any illnesses or deaths, the detection of coliform bacteria serves as a proxy indicator for the *risk* of illness and death from unsafe water. The public health advisory itself is an action taken based on data (the presence of bacteria) that informs this indicator. The goal of the advisory is to keep the rate of illness and mortality at zero.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ktvq.com