Town of Jonesboro Mayor J. “Spike” Harris has issued a partial water boil advisory affecting only the water service customers east of Leon Drive in Jonesboro. The advisory was issued as a precaution Saturday evening after the Jonesboro Public Works Department repaired a water line at the intersection of East Main Street and Leon Drive, causing several customers to experience a brief service interruption.

“The repair was done quickly by the Public Works Department after isolating the leak in the line, and we don’t believe that there was any infiltration, but it was necessary as a precaution to issue the Boil Advisory,” said Harris. “Samples were sent to the Louisiana Department of Health for testing, and we expect the advisory to be lifted early by Monday or Tuesday. We appreciate the patience and understanding of those residents who are affected.”

What To Do During a Boil Advisory

• Drinking & Beverages: Use bottled, boiled, or disinfected water for drinking, making ice, coffee, tea, and infant formula.
• Cooking & Food Prep: Use boiled or bottled water to wash fruits, vegetables, and to cook food.
• Teeth Brushing: Use only bottled or boiled water to brush your teeth.
• Pets: Give your pets boiled or bottled water instead of tap water.
• Handwashing: Wash your hands with soap and tap water for at least 20 seconds; you can follow with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
• Bathing & Showers: Be careful not to swallow any water. Showers are generally safe for older children and adults, though sponge baths are recommended for infants and people with open wounds.
• Dishes: Wash dishes by hand using hot water and a solution of 1 teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water, then let them air-dry, or run your dishwasher if it reaches a sanitize cycle or at least 150°F.
• Laundry: Washing clothes with tap water is generally safe.

How to Boil and Disinfect Water

• Boiling: Heat the water until you see large, rapid bubbles. Let it boil continuously for 1 minute (or 3 minutes if you are at elevations above 6,500 feet). Let it cool completely.
• Chemical Disinfection (If you cannot boil):
  • Clear water: Add 8 drops (about 1/8 teaspoon) of unscented household liquid bleach (5% to 9% sodium hypochlorite) per gallon of water. Stir and let sit for 30 minutes.
  • Cloudy water: Filter it first through a clean cloth or coffee filter, then add 16 drops (about 1/4 teaspoon) of unscented bleach per gallon. Stir and let sit for 30 minutes.

Steps After the Advisory Is Lifted

Once local authorities officially state the water is safe:

• Flush Pipes & Faucets: Run all cold-water faucets and taps for 5 minutes.
• Flush Hot Water Tanks: Run hot water lines for at least 15 minutes (for a standard 40-gallon tank) or 30 minutes for larger tanks to clear untreated water.
• Ice Makers & Appliances: Discard 3 to 5 batches of ice from your ice maker, flush water lines, and clean or replace refrigerator and sink water filters