Bode lifts boil order after water issues

By KENT THOMPSON
The city of Bode has lifted its boil order after water problems earlier this week, when a pump went out on the main well.
Bode City Clerk Becky Struthers reported that the pump went out sometime between early Sunday morning, Dec. 27, and 3 a.m. Monday morning, Dec. 28.
Schumacher Well Drilling of Algona came to town and worked till 6 p.m. Dec. 28, repairing the problem. They had to dig 232 feet to get to the pump, Struthers reported.
The city placed a boil order in effect and provided about 120 gallons of water to city residents for general use, along with an additional 14 cases of water for drinking, Struthers said.
The water tower had to be completely drained and then refilled after the repair. On Wednesday, City Maintenance Superintendent Todd McMahon took drinking water samples to the testing site in Ellsworth as required by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
“The test came back clean early Thursday morning (Dec. 31) and the boil order was lifted,” Struthers said.
“Everyone was very cooperative and understanding of the situation,” Struthers said. It was fortunate for the city that the water issue came after the Christmas holiday weekend and before New Year’s.
“The next issue for the city council to address will be getting an alarm system for the water well,” Struthers said.