A Boil Advisory has been issued for the Village of Quitman water system until further notice. The advisement was put in place on Friday, August 1st, after it was discovered that the pressure in the water system was dropping too low.
According to Village of Quitman officials, the reason for the pressure drop was due to the wells and tank not communicating with each other properly, which is believed to be caused by recent storm damage to the electronic controllers. Chlorine levels are good throughout the system now.
Water samples will be collected on Monday, August 3rd, and submitted to the State Health Department lab for testing, with results expected to be received back on Tuesday.
During a boil water advisory, it’s crucial to prioritize safety by avoiding consumption of tap water until it has been boiled for at least one minute or using bottled water. This precaution is necessary because a boil water advisory indicates a potential contamination risk in the water supply.
Precautions To Take While Under a Boil Advisory
Drinking and Food Preparation:
Boil water: Bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute and let it cool before using it for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, and washing dishes.
Use bottled water: If boiling water is not feasible, use commercially bottled water for all drinking and cooking purposes.
Discard contaminated items: Throw away ice cubes, beverages, and food prepared with tap water during the advisory.
Hygiene:
Handwashing: Use boiled or bottled water for handwashing, especially before handling food.
Bathing/Showering: Be careful not to swallow any water while bathing or showering. Consider a sponge bath for babies and young children to minimize the risk of accidental ingestion.
Toothbrushing: Use boiled or bottled water to brush your teeth.
Other Considerations:
Pets: Provide pets with boiled or bottled water.
Laundry: Laundry can be done as usual.
Washing Dishes: If possible, use disposable plates and utensils during the advisory. Otherwise, sanitize dishes thoroughly, according to Natura Water Systems.
Dishwashers: While dishwashers typically reach high temperatures, it’s still recommended to sanitize dishes with boiled or bottled water if possible.
Home Water Filters: Do not rely on home filtering devices as a substitute for boiling or using bottled water.