On the afternoon of April 21, the city posted that water flowage to its reservoir tanks has been progressing with levels rising above critical thresholds, thus avoiding a Precautionary Boil Water Notice.

The city is still urging residents and businesses to continue their water conservation efforts, and “it is anticipated that the tanks will reach safe levels early tomorrow morning, which would allow a return to normal water usage,” said the city, adding that it will alert Islanders when this occurs.

Due to Islanders’ diligence during the crisis, the city report said the tanks are refilling faster than originally expected as staff closely monitors the levels.

**** April 21 morning story:

As residents’ dishes and laundry pile up while they conserve water, major progress is being made with the city’s water crisis.

After Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) crews completed emergency repairs on a pair of faulty valves during the morning and afternoon of April 20, water began flowing through the pipes of Mercer Island’s supply line for the first time in several days.

There were more steps to be made in continuing to resolve the issue.

“The water supply line has since been flushed and water has been tested to confirm it meets quality and safety standards. Incoming water is now beginning to refill the Island’s reservoir tanks,” the city reported that evening.

According to city Chief of Operations Jason Kintner in an April 20 webinar, city crews’ water sampling includes testing of residual chlorine levels, turbidity, different iron levels and more as part of the city’s water quality standards.

The city urges residents and businesses to continue their stellar job of conserving water. As of the evening of April 20, the city said it would take up to 48 hours to refill the tanks back to normal operating levels. Another update to residents will be on the way sometime today.

For tips on maximizing water conservation, visit: www.mercerisland.gov/watertips.

“We greatly appreciate the community’s patience and quick action to conserve water during this emergency. This has been a tremendous strain for all Islanders and your collective efforts were critical in preventing a much worse emergency,” the city said.

On the Mercer Island School District front, schools are operating on normal schedules today.

During the April 20 webinar, Mayor Salim Nice thanked Islanders for their water conservation efforts and added that his family’s sink was full of dishes and the laundry remained undone. One Facebook poster said that their “dish pile in the sink is getting precarious.”

Nice said that Islanders have risen to the occasion during the crisis and that everyone will outride the emergency together.

Along with the city, SPU issued a statement to thank residents for conserving water over the last few days. After its crews continuously worked to mend the faulty water valves, SPU thanked the city for its valued partnership during the situation.

“SPU is investigating what caused the malfunction. The investigation will help us determine if we need to do any further inspection of valves or other water infrastructure in the area in the coming weeks,” SPU said in a statement.

One issue that was raised on the city’s Facebook page suggested that city officials discuss a backup pipe scenario. The city replied: “We are engaging with Seattle Public Utilities on improving their infrastructure to avoid this situation when critical interruptions to their service occur in the future.”

As far as receiving emergency alerts through King County, some residents on the city’s Facebook feed said they were informed of the water crisis while some others said they were out of the loop. One resident said they learned of the problem through the school district. The city said that it began notifying the community as soon as the water issue arose.

“I am so grateful that our Island community took this seriously and did their part! Also, the communication from the city has been very helpful,” reads one post on the city’s Facebook page.

**** April 20 afternoon story:

After a pair of successful Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) emergency valve repairs, water is now flowing through the pipes of Mercer Island’s supply line.

SPU crews completed work on one valve at about 8:30 a.m. today on the band of a 24-inch pipe, and workers finished repairing another valve — which malfunctioned in a different location as service restoration began this morning — at about 1 p.m. today.

According to city Chief of Operations Jason Kintner during a webinar this afternoon, residents and businesses need to continue conserving water for the next 48 to 72 hours so the city’s reservoir tanks can replenish quicker and return to optimal operational levels.

“We have ensured that we have maintained positive pressure within our system and I’m happy to report that with water entering our system, we expect that water to go through a series of checks on the city side this evening and it should start entering our reservoir facility early this evening and start refilling our tanks,” said Kintner, adding that city crews’ work will include additional sampling and flushing the city system.

City Manager Jessi Bon noted that the city is not issuing a Precautionary Boil Water Notice at this time.

“It is your (community’s) work to conserve water the last 24-plus hours that has allowed our reservoir tanks to maintain a sufficient level to not require a boil water advisory,” she said.

Along with the city, SPU issued a statement to thank residents and businesses for conserving water over the last two days.

Like last evening, the city has activated an emergency well for distribution of non-potable water from 4-9 p.m. tonight at Rotary Park, 4350 88th Ave. SE.

Bon said the city has formed a stellar partnership to help keep families and children safe during this situation with the school district, community, Washington State Department of Health, King County Emergency Management, volunteers, emergency managers and more.

Mayor Salim Nice said that Islanders have risen to the occasion through immense water conservation efforts and that everyone will outride the emergency together. He added that there are lessons to be learned regarding the water system’s vulnerabilities and that city council will be conversing about how the city can work with SPU to enhance the system.

“I know the delayed start to schools and requests for water reductions are a significant inconvenience. But as you’ve heard, your actions are preventing far greater impacts on the community, particularly to those least able to mitigate them, such as our senior and assisted living facility members,” Nice said.

Nice praised Bon and emergency manager Jennifer Franklin for stepping into action and communicating with the public and working with SPU to deal with the issue.

The Mercer Island School District operated on a two-hour delay today in order to help conserve water during their lunch preparations.

Superintendent Fred Rundle said that he values working in a community where everyone is unified to create a safe environment for all.

“The city has been outstanding in their communication with us from the moment that they were first made aware that there was an issue that could potentially impact our schools,” he said.

***** An update from this morning (April 20):

City of Mercer Island staff asks residents and businesses to continue conserving water as Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) crews perform emergency repairs on a pipe that is part of the city’s water supply line.

SPU crews made progress on repairing a water valve overnight and are continuing their work at press time, according to the city. The Island’s water system is currently operating from reserve tanks.

“Water service to the Island’s supply line is anticipated to be restored by late afternoon,” reads a press release, adding that the city will begin receiving water several hours after the repair is completed. “Islanders’ water conservation efforts have helped maintain critical water supply and pressure, meaning a Precautionary Boil Water Notice has not yet been necessary.”

For the safety and well-being of students and staff, local schools will operate on a two-hour delay today, and morning preschool is canceled for the day. According to the Mercer Island School District, bottled water will be available for students and staff at all buildings, all the schools’ bathrooms will be operable, all hallway drinking fountains will be in inoperable and classroom sinks will be operable for hand washing. If they choose to, students and staff can bring their own bottled water to school today. Food service will be available at all schools today.

**** Here’s last night’s story (April 19):

The city of Mercer Island is asking residents and businesses to continue conserving as much water as possible until further notice following an unexpected Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) construction problem that occurred this morning.

The issue arose during SPU’s planned work on the supply lines that provide water to Mercer Island, and the city is currently not being supplied with incoming water, according to a city press release issued at about 11:30 a.m. today.

Upon being informed that SPU can’t complete the repair until the morning of April 20, this evening the city has issued an emergency proclamation since the Island’s water system will only be supplied by its two reservoir tanks for the time being.

The proclamation reads:

* All Island residents and businesses are asked to reduce water usage to essential needs only.

* If reservoir water levels drop to a certain point, a Precautionary Boil Water Notice is anticipated.

During a webinar tonight, City Manager Jessi Bon informed the community that the city has not issued the boil water advisory at press time. Showing complete transparency, she added that the city may have to issue the advisory if water levels drop overnight.

“What you can do as a community for us right now and to help us is just to continue to minimize water use to only essential needs. Your efforts are working. We have pushed out some of our worst-case scenarios by several hours because of the good work of our community, so thank you for that,” she said.

According to the city, “As water use continues and the reservoir tanks drop to lower levels, water pressure across Mercer Island will likely drop. If water pressure drops low enough, water quality and safety cannot be guaranteed and a Precautionary Boil Water Notice becomes necessary.”

Bon said that SPU welders are presently on site to repair the water valve on a 16-inch pipe that could be fully operational by sometime tomorrow morning or as late as noon.

According to city emergency manager Jennifer Franklin, the city has activated an emergency well for distribution of non-potable water from 6-10 p.m. tonight at Rotary Park, 4350 88th Ave. SE. Franklin said her team has planned and trained for such an emergency and is ready to spring into action.

“This is great resource for Mercer Island. We are very fortunate to have this. We’re doing everything that we can to go ahead and make sure that our community is safe and we have water,” she said, adding that residents need to treat the non-potable water.

City Chief of Operations Jason Kintner, who also participated in the webinar, noted that the faulty valve failed to function when SPU workers were preparing to temporarily refill the tanks on April 18.

This failure “prevented water from coming across the bridge and refilling our two four-million-gallon reservoir tanks here on the Island,” said Kintner, noting that the water main that SPU is repairing resides on the Bellevue side of Interstate 90 and is an entry point into the Island system.

“Unfortunately, yesterday when the news came that the valve could not be opened, we started falling into a greater depletion of our reservoir tanks,” he said.

On the Mercer Island Fire Department’s end, Interim Fire Chief Ben Lane said that during this emergency, they have one additional engine staffer on board and firefighters staffing two 3,000-gallon-capacity mutual aid water tenders at both stations. Through a collaboration with the Boeing Fire Department in Renton, they can transport a 5,000-gallon water tender to the Island within 20 minutes if needed. Also, the King County Emergency Operations Center could supply four additional water trucks to back up the current Island water tenders.

“The safety of the community of Mercer Island remains our top priority of the Mercer Island Fire Department and city leadership,” Lane said.

After meeting with the city tonight and learning that it has not issued a boil water advisory at press time, the Mercer Island School District has decided to operate on a two-hour delay on April 20.

According to the district, a potential boil water advisory extending into April 20 would impact its schools. If the advisory is issued, water for toilets and other essential school functions will be operable, but the district would be unable to provide food service, which would result in altered schedules.

“The primary driver for our decisions about tomorrow’s school schedule will be the safety and well-being of our students and staff,” noted the district, adding that it will update families by email regarding the April 20 schedule and post it on its Twitter and Facebook.

For more information, visit www.mercerisland.gov/conservewater

**** An early version of the story stated (April 19):

The Island’s water system is currently operating from reserve tanks and there is no impact on water quality or safety.

Water conservation will help maintain supply in these tanks to keep the Island’s water infrastructure safe and functioning while SPU conducts emergency repair work to fix the supply lines and reconnect the Island’s main water supply as quickly as possible, the release states. The city will update Islanders on SPU’s progress and when the water system returns to normal operations.

The city’s emergency response partners, along with extra crews, will be on Island until the water lines are back up and running.

Over at the Mercer Island School District, its operations and maintenance teams are monitoring the situation, according to a social media post.

“At this time, there is no impact to the daily schedule of our schools. Schools will continue to operate in a normal manner and we do not have to close bathrooms or limit access to water in our schools,” the post reads.

To report any water issues, call the city’s Customer Service team at (206) 275-7600.