The city of Richland lifted a boil order for its drinking water on Friday, July 14, two days after issuing the alert to residents in the city of about 165 residents.

The July 12 notice stated that potentially harmful bacteria could have entered the city’s water supply due to loss of water pressure in a supply line after the line was connected to the city’s new water treatment system.

After connecting that line, the city had two water samples tested for total coliform bacteria. One of those tests showed a level that prompted the city, after consulting with the Oregon Health Authority, to issue the boil notice. The notice applied to city residents and customers who live between Richland and New Bridge, about 3 miles north of the town. The city obtains its drinking water from a well.

Richland Mayor Patrick Lattin said the state required the city to test its water after connecting the line to the treatment system. He suspects the bacteria could have entered the system from pipes in an old building.

After the July 12 notice, the city had another water sample collected on Thursday, July 13. That test showed no elevated levels of bacteria, said Patti Crews, Richland city recorder.

That result prompted the city to end the boil notice at 7 a.m. on Friday, July 14.

“(The test) found our water quality to be excellent,” Crews said on Friday morning.