KDHE Home - News 2002 - News Release

Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary

For Immediate Release

August 29, 2002 785-296-5795

Contact: Sharon Watson

KDHE Issues Boil Water Advisory for Linn County Rural Water District # 1
and # 3, and City of La Cygne Customers

Initial Lab Tests Indicate System Not Compromised

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is issuing a boil water advisory for all customers of Linn County Rural Water District # 1 and # 3, and the City of La Cygne. The Linn County Rural Water District # 3 shut down its system August 28th, after a threat indicated a compromise to the system. The Rural District # 1 did not shut down. The City of La Cygne kept its system pressure up for fire protection and to prevent backflows which could introduce contaminants to the system.

Initial lab tests conducted by KDHE to determine if the system was compromised did not reveal anything unusual in the water. Whenever a system is shut down or depressurized, bacteria may enter the system, which prompted the precautionary boil advisory for drinking and cooking purposes. Also the water will likely be discolored and have taste and odor problems because pipeline sediments are stirred up as the systems return to normal pressure. Additional test results are expected back August 30th.

All customers of Linn County Rural Water District # 1 and # 3, and the City of La Cygne are advised to:
Boil water vigorously used for drinking and cooking for at least one minute prior to use. Use only boiled water for drinking, diluting fruit juices, and all other food preparation.

• Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household ice maker. Remake ice cubes with water that has been boiled.
• Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
• Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled.

KDHE staff will perform additional sampling and analysis over the next few days, and will notify residents once the boil water order has been lifted.

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