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E. Coli concerns affecting businesses, residents near North Bend

By Jessica Oh, KIRO 7 News
By Jessica Oh, KIRO 7 News
The Sallal Water contamination is affecting businesses in addition to thousands of customers.
Wednesday, the Sallal Water Association met with more than 250 customers regarding the discovery of E.Coli in a well that sources the entire water system. Sallal Water serves roughly 5,000 homes near the North Bend area, officials said.
Several businesses have been forced to temporarily close as a result of the water contamination.
Rob Sherard is the owner of Mt Si Pub on North Bend Way. He was forced to close last week, when water officials released a system-wide boil water advisory.
“It was definitely up and down confusion, not knowing when I can open back up,” Sherard said.
After meeting with the health department, Sherard reopened his business on Monday with certain restrictions. Drinks must be served out of cans, ice must come from a bag and dishwashing requires bottled water. He can’t serve food that needs produce.
“Only pizza, hot dogs, potato salad and bags of chips,” he said.
Sherard considers himself lucky, because the other restaurants using Sallal Water are still closed.
Rich Maki, the owner of the Riverbend Café on 436th Ave SE, says he has lost up to $40,000 in revenue.
“As a food business you can't wash anything whether it be your silverware, your glass, plates or your product,” he says, “It’s frustrating.”
Roughly 20 people work at Riverbend Café and Maki says he is concerned about his employees.
“I’ve got employees that have sons, daughters, wives who are depending on the income,” he said.
Eric O’Brien, the president of the Water Sallal Association Board, expects the water advisory to be lifted by October 1. He says crews have been chlorinating the water system since Friday and hopes testing will show positive results next week.
The cause of the contamination is still being investigated.

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