City Reveals Saturday Test Results and Next Steps
Boil-Water Advisory Still in Place

(Mercer Island, WA) – Sat Oct 4, 12:45 pm –

The City of Mercer Island announces that the latest test results from water samples collected Friday have been analyzed and are clear: all 18 of the samples revealed no presence of E Coli or Total Coliform.  This includes seven samples collected with permission from residential properties.

*NEW* Click here to view a map of the water sampling test results (download the file and save; open the file and hover over the checkmarks and stars to view the results).

At this time however, the boil-water advisory is still in place. The City and WA State Department of Healthcontinue to review implementation off the response plan and water quality monitoring to determine when the boil-water advisory can be lifted.

The City is grateful for the efforts of Public Health – Seattle & King County that allows some restaurants and schools to open with limited menus. Currently, 15 restaurants are open and others are pending.  Please see the updated list below. Open restaurants are being inspected today by Public Health to ensure that the agreed upon step-by-step procedures are being followed. Restaurants wishing to reopen (with a limited menu) can contact the City’s hotline at 206-275-7800 and they will be connected with an inspector.

City and Seattle Public Utility crews continue to implement a response plan, which includes, chlorine injections, inspections of vaults, and targeted flushing of water lines. All agencies involved in the incident have formulated the next stage of the extensive response plan, in order to end the current boil-water advisory as soon as possible.

No cases of E Coli illness among residents (confirmed with lab tests) have been reported to Public Health. Medical facilities and family doctors will convey any occurrences to Public Health.

City utility professionals collected another 18 samples this morning (including seven samples collected with permission from residential properties) for analysis overnight; results will be released by Noon, Sunday October 5.

  • City crews escorted a dive team to the storage tanks this morning, and the tanks are in the process of being inspected. The dive team distributed additional chlorine pellets on the floor of the reservoir before exiting.
  • The City remains interested to hear from water customers who have any reason to believe their garden irrigation system is connected without a permitted backflow preventer; there is no penalty for contacting the City. More information is at www.mercergov.org/backflow.
  • Free water for our most vulnerable or needy populations is available at the Community Center during daylight hours only today; the City asks that only those of limited means make use of this supply. Grocerystores report being well stocked with bottled water as of 10:00 am, 10/4.
  • The Mercer Island Farmers Market will be open this Sunday, Oct 5, with Public Health oversight.
  • Whole Foods Market has generously offered free use of their in-store filtered-water machines for MI residents at their South Lake Union and Bellevue outlets.
  • Please see www.mercerislandschools.org for school district information.

The next round of test results will be analyzed and released by Noon, Sunday October 5.

This notice is being issued following consultation with the Washington State Department of Health and Public Health – Seattle and King County.

If residents have any further questions, please contact the City of Mercer Island hotline (today open 9:00am-5:00pm) at 206-275-7800, or visit our website at www.mercergov.org.

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*UPDATED* Restaurants Open On A Limited Menu (10/4):

  • Islander Restaurant
  • Sahara Pizza
  • Tully’s at 7810 SE 27t St.
  • Menchies
  • Mo’s Pizza
  • QFC
  • Baskin Robins
  • Albertson’s
  • Starbucks at 7620 SE 27 St.
  • Yo Mercer
  • Roanoke Inn
  • Phobulous
  • Han’s Garden Restaurant
  • Freshy’s Seafood Market
  • Qdoba Mexican Grill
  • Seven Star Chinese Restaurant

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