Idaho Governor Butch Otter on Monday signed a disaster declaration for White Bird, as the town has been without water for more than two weeks.
The town has already declared a state of emergency, and Idaho County officals approved a disaster declaration last week.
The problem began November 24th when White Bird’s two-well water system lost pressure. As of Monday, officials still hadn’t found the cause of the pressure loss and issued an advisory to boil all water used for drinking water, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and preparing food.
On December 1st, the state warned the town’s 93 residents that even boiling city water wouldn’t make it safe for consumption.
Town officials, who applied for emergency funding last week from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, said providing potable water to residents carried an unsustainable cost. (Idaho Office of Emergency Management, Idaho Statesman)
