At approximately 4:00pm on Thursday, July 11th, a WATER BOIL ADVISORY was issued for residents on the Town of Jonesboro water system. According to a report given by Jonesboro Mayor J. “Spike” Harris on his Facebook page, the advisory is expected to remain in place till the early part of next week. 

“I am announcing that all customers of the Town of Jonesboro Water System is now under a Boil Advisory,” said Harris. “Users are asked to take every precaution to stay safe by observing water boil procedures during this situation.” 

After reports of low water pressure being experienced started coming in mid morning on Thursday, crew members of the Town of Jonesboro Water Department discovered a breach in a major water main in a wooded area alongside the railroad tracks in the downtown area near Jimmie Davis Blvd. (Main Street) in Jonesboro.

Immediate repair procedures began only to find the situation was much more serious than expected and no quick fix remedy was possible. By 8:00pm all residents and businesses on the water system was without water but expected to have at least some water pressure back sometime Thursday night. 

“What we discovered was that it was going to take major repair procedure to get the line fixed and back in operable condition,” said Harris. “This required that all water be cut off for a period of time so the technicians could make the repair.”

Once the repair has been completed and the system is brought back on line, water samples will be sent to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) to be tested and ruled that there are no contaminants in the system. The Boil Advisory will remain in effect until town officials have received an “all clear” notification from the LDH.

What to Do During a Boil Water Advisory

During a boil water advisory, bottled water is the best option until officials say otherwise. If you do not have bottled water available, the next best option is to boil your tap water to make it safe to drink. If boiling your tap water is not possible, you can disinfect it to make it safe to drink.

Water Filters

You should boil your tap water even if it is filtered. Most kitchen and other household water filters do not remove bacteria or viruses. Filters collect germs from water, so all water filters should be replaced after the advisory has been lifted. Anyone
changing the cartridges should wear gloves and wash hands afterwards. Flush water through the filter for several minutes and then replace the removable part of the filter unit as needed.

Preparing and Cooking Food

Use bottled water or boiled water that has cooled to: wash all fruits and vegetables, cook food, prepare drinks such as coffee, tea, etc., wash food preparation surfaces.

Use of Ice

Do not use ice from ice trays, ice dispensers, or ice makers. Throw out all ice made with tap water. Make new ice with bottled or boiled water.

Handwashing

In many situations, you can use tap water and soap to wash your hands. Follow the guidance of your local public health officials or emergency managers. Be sure to scrub your hands with soap and water (warm or cold) for 20 seconds and rinse them well under running water. It is important to dry hands completely with a towel or by letting
them air dry.

Bathing and Showering

Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering. Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.

Brushing Teeth

Brush teeth with bottled or boiled water that has cooled.

Washing Dishes

Use disposable plates, cups, and utensils, if possible. If you do not have disposable dishes, follow the instructions below. Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if the water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees or if the dishwasher has a sanitizing cycle.
To wash dishes by hand:
o Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water.
o In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water.
o Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute.
o Let the dishes air dry completely before using again.

Laundry

It is safe to do laundry as usual.

Pet Care

Pets can get sick from the same germs as people. It is a good idea to give them bottled water or boiled water that has been cooled for drinking.