RE: Lake Lawrence Water System, ID #22572N, Thurston County

On September 10, 2026, our staff will be adding chlorine to the sources serving your water. This is being done as a precautionary measure, after coliform bacteria was found in a sample collected from the water system during routine water quality testing. Although this incident was not an emergency, as a customer of the water system, you have a right to know what happened and what we are doing to correct the situation.

Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment, harmless to the general population, and used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful bacteria may be present. The presence of coliform bacteria is a warning of potential problems because pathogens (organisms that can cause disease) may also enter the system via the same route as the coliform bacteria. The presence of coliforms usually means that soil or vegetation has entered the system. You do not need to boil your water. People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at an increased risk and may want to contact their health care provider for additional guidance.

Chlorine will be added to the sources for the next two weeks to disinfect and remove the coliform bacteria. Additional samples will be collected and tested once chlorination has stopped to confirm that the coliforms have been eliminated from the water system.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Protecting your health and safety is our highest priority. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call our Customer Service Center. We can be reached toll-free at (877) 408-4060 or by email at [email protected].