UPDATED: ‘Do not drink the water’; Flooding contaminates Panguitch water system

Stock image | Photo by Pecaphoto77/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News

GARFIELD COUNTY — A flash flood that passed over Panguitch City’s watershed damaged the city’s water system, leading to contamination of the drinking water supply.


  • Update July 19, 2:30 p.m. The boil order has been lifted and water may be used after flushing household water lines.
  • Update July 15, 3:25 p.m. A boil order is now in place for drinking water from Panguitch’s water system.

Personnel clean a water tank in Panguitch, Utah, July 2018 | Photo courtesy of Becki Bronson, St. George News

City officials first learned of the contamination Saturday, according to an advisory issued by the city, which warned that water in the system likely contains toxin levels that “exceed the short term dosage level for humans in drinking water.”

A flash flood damaged one of the spring collection boxes in the city’s watershed, allowing mud to get into the water system.

“We are working as quickly as possible to clean the water tanks and lines,” the advisory states.

Residents were initially told not to drink or use the water and were offered bottled water at various locations in the city.

After cleaning the tanks, a boil order was lifted Thursday and residents may now use water from the culinary system after flushing their water lines.

For more information, call the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office at 435-676-2678.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.

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