Huntsville volunteers deliver water to elderly during 9 day boil order

HUNTSVILLE, Weber County—Sometimes, the toughest times can reveal a community’s true character. That’s proven true in Huntsville, where residents are on day nine without drinking water.

Marianne Peterson is 85 and has lived in Huntsville for thirty years.

“It’s never happened before with the water that I can remember,” Peterson said.

On Dec. 10, Peterson had neighbors knock on her door, letting her know there was a boil order for the community. Along with the news, these neighbors brought Peterson water to drink.

“I don’t know what I would do without them,” Peterson said.

Cathy and Carol Stoker were Peterson’s helpers, and it was not the only house where they stopped. Carol Stoker works as the town’s water meter reader, so she knew exactly who needed water.

“Some of these people have become my friends through the water business,” Carol Stoker said. “If they can’t get out and do it, I have picked up cases of water and taken them to them.”

This is something the Stokers are willing to continue doing until the boil order is lifted, which might not be until Christmas.

Thom Summers, the water operator for Huntsville, has his crew working 12 to 15 hours each day trying to get the treatment plant working again.

“Hopefully before Christmas,” Summers said.

On Thursday, the crew pushed chlorine through 15 to 18 miles of pipe, cleaning out contamination following the leak. That’s the first round of testing, followed by a second one where Summers said they’ll send the water samples back to the labs for final approval.

“After it’s run through the system we got to dilute it down,” Summers said. “That way, it will be safe to drink.”

Until then, the boil order remains in effect.

Associated Food Stores donated a semi-truck of bottled water, which is available along with other temporary water at the town center.