March 4, 2022 |
The residents of Rawlins and Sinclair enter a second day Friday of being without municipal water. Schools are closed. So are businesses. A “boil water” advisory remains in effect for both towns.
Separate, cascading events conspired to create a catastrophic system-wide failure. Two separate blowouts ran the storage tanks empty. Meanwhile, a failure of a pump at the treatment plant combined with reduced flows from the springs south of Rawlins crippled the incoming supply of water. Because water pressure in the system is low, the “boil water” advisory is required. Every resident and business in both communities has been affected.
The emergency response has been massive and coordinated. Fixing the system and making potable water accessible have been the top priorities. Bigfoot 99’s Cali O’Hare has been on the scene following it all, and has the details in two separate reports.
Listen to Part II: Issues with Rawlins water system present for years
Rawlins and Sinclair residents can get safe drinking water from a well source at the Carbon County Fairgrounds on Rodeo Street. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints dropped off several bottled water pallets there, driven over from Salt Lake City. These bottles are free for the taking, in bags of four, six, and 10 to ensure enough for everyone. The well water is available any time of day through any spigot in the big red horse barn, and it does not need to be boiled.
If you need water but are unable to pick it up, call the C4 at 307-328-7777.
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