Eureka officials say air is causing discoloration in tap water; engineers engaged to fix system

EUREKA — Eureka city leaders told residents on Jan. 12 they are treating an ongoing problem in the municipal water supply as an issue of air intrusion into the distribution lines rather than contamination, and that engineers are working on a technical fix.

"It's perfectly safe to drink. It just looks really horrible," Council member Kimberly Clements said, summarizing a letter from Sunrise Engineering that traced the symptom to a mix of older and newer booster-station components and likely unauthorized or legacy connections near Tunic/Tenney Junction that draw air into the lines. Clements said additional water testing has been completed to confirm safety.

Why it matters: Air in the system can produce visible discoloration and pressure irregularities, undermine confidence, and complicate firefighting and business operations. Residents at the meeting described machines and soft-drink dispensers seizing up when sudden shutdowns occur, and asked for better advance notice when the city must shut water off to service pumps.

What officials said: Clements told the council she received as-built plans from Sunrise Engineering and forwarded them to the city engineer the same day. She said two air-release valves — one before and one after the booster pumps — appear not to be functioning properly. Staff and residents identified five service lines tied into the Tenney/Tunic Junction area that likely change flow dynamics and can pull air through the booster pumps, sending it into town distribution.

Backup wells and compliance: Residents and councilors raised the status of several backup wells (referred to during the meeting as Holmensville/Hohmann wells). Staff said those wells are inactive because they have not been maintained to state compliance standards; some pumps and booster equipment have remote activation capability but need engineering review and any required maintenance before being returned to service.

Costs and next steps: Councilors warned against repeatedly replacing booster pumps without addressing the underlying piping and valve configuration; one council speaker noted individual booster pumps can cost about $20,000. Officials said they may need to temporarily shut water service to replace a pump or rework valves, and promised to notify the public (including push notifications and targeted outreach to affected businesses) before planned shutdowns. Engineering site visits and a system walk-through with city staff and the contractor were identified as the next steps.

Timeline: Clements said the project was funded in pieces between 2010 and 2015, with work that reused some existing infrastructure; Sunrise Engineering’s letter was described as explaining how legacy hookups and mixed funding decisions led to the current configuration. The council emphasized that engineers will recommend whether to reconfigure the chlorinator location, replace valves, or re-route certain service connections to stop air ingress.

The council did not make a final technical decision at the Jan. 12 meeting; staff said they would return with engineering recommendations and inform the public before any shutdowns or pump removals.