BEND, OR -- Notices will start going out Wednesday to Bend residents, informing them the city will not meet the state's deadline to treat certain potential parasites in the city's water supply.  Delays from the public process deciding which type of treatement plant to install, along with lawsuits, took longer than originally planned.  

The city is required to notify residents to keep them informed of plans to meet state and federal government deadlines to treat for Cryptosporidium.  Steve Prazak, Bend's Water Quality Manager says, "We are on the path forward to come in compliance with federal and state guidelines."  Prazak says the city received a waiver to move the deadline to April 15, 2016, "That is the deadline that we agreed to witht he Oregon Health Authority, to complete the water treatment plant and supply that treated water to the public. 

Once finished, the new treatment plant will treat for Cryptosporidium and will remove silt and other particulates, allowing Bridge Creek to provide water year-round, even if there was a fire in the watershed.  Currently, water from Bridge Creek is treated with Chlorine, however that does not destroy Cryptosporidium.