St. Helens Water Shutoff in Riverfront District and Adjacent Areas November 1, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 31, 2024

St. Helens, Ore. - A water shutoff in the St. Helens Riverfront District and adjacent residential areas will occur on Friday, November 1, 2024, to make critical repairs to an eight-inch watermain at the Cowlitz Street and South 1st Street intersection.

During work replacing two failing 12-inch water valves on Monday, October 28 at the intersection of Cowlitz Street and South 1st Street, a water valve on an adjacent eight-inch watermain at the intersection failed during the shutoff process. Replacement parts were not immediately available to replace the eight-inch water valve at that time. Before concrete is poured at the intersection as part of the Streets and Utilities Extension Project, the valve on the eight-inch watermain must be replaced. If the valve is not replaced now, it could lead to a future failure of the line. A water shutoff is necessary to replace the valve.

The water shutdown will begin at approximately 7 a.m. Repairs are anticipated to take until 2 p.m. to complete.

Impacted streets include:

• Strand Street (from St. Helens Street to south of Cowlitz Street)
• Cowlitz Street (from South 2nd Street to Strand Street)
• All properties on Plaza Square
• South 1st Street (from St. Helens Street to Cowlitz Street)
• South 2nd Street (from St. Helens Street to Cowlitz Street)
• South 3rd Street (from St. Helens Street to John Gumm Way)
• St. Helens Street (from S 3rd Street to River Street)

This work is taking place in a high-pressure zone of the City’s water system with a large service area impacted. Due to the high-water pressure and size of the impacted area, the repair will take time to complete. Water must first be blown out of the impacted area with the water lines aired out. Necessary shut offs will also need to be completed in numerous areas of the system to isolate the line before the repair work can begin.

It is not necessary to boil your water (boil water notice) as part of this repair.

You can prepare for the water shutoff ahead of time by:

• Having enough drinking water stored before the system shutdown.
• Storing at least 14 gallons of water per person in sanitized containers is recommended. You can also fill your bathtub with water.
• Filling buckets with water to flush toilets ahead of the shutdown. You can flush a toilet with about a gallon of water.
• Limiting your use of water by using hand sanitizers, paper plates, and paper cups.
• Checking on your neighbors, especially those who are elderly or disabled, to see if they need help.

After the repair is completed and water is turned back on, you may experience air bubbles or opaque-looking water coming out of your faucet. If this happens, run cold water from your faucet. It should take less than a minute for your water to run normal again. 

Notice of the shutdown is being made through the City of St. Helens’ utility billing system to all impacted properties using the phone number on file through our system. An alert is also being placed on the City’s website (www.sthelensoregon.gov) and through social media.

Once water service is restored, the City of St. Helens will make an update on its website (www.sthelensoregon.gov) and on social media that water service has been restored.

If you experience any water issues after water service is restored, please call St. Helens Public Works through non-emergency dispatch at 503-397-1521.

###

For further information regarding the water shutdown, please contact Communications Officer Crystal King at cking@sthelensoregon.gov.