Kansas Department of Health and Environment

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

For Immediate Release

August 30, 2002

Contact: Sharon Watson, 785-296-5795

Boil Water Advisory Lifted for Linn County Rural Water District # 1 and the City of La Cygne

Advisory Remains In Effect for Rural Water District # 3

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has lifted the boil water advisory for Linn County Rural Water District # 1 and for the City of La Cygne. The advisory remains in effect for Rural Water District # 3 until further notice.

RWD # 3 water supply distribution system was shut down August 28th, after a threat indicated a compromise to the system. Rural Water District # 1 and the City of La Cygne kept their system pressures up for fire protection and to prevent backflows which could introduce contaminants to the system.

Lab tests conducted by KDHE to determine if the system was compromised found nothing unusual in the water. However, since RWD # 3's distribution system was still not back to normal and had areas without chlorine residual, bacteria could be in the system. This means the precautionary boil advisory is necessary 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 testing will be conducted on RWD # 3.

All customers of Linn County Rural Water District # 3 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 for RWD # 3.

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