Boil Water Advisory Issued for
Jefferson County RWD # 12 in Jefferson And Leavenworth Counties

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for Jefferson County Rural Water District (RWD) #12. The advisory is limited to those customers West of Stranger Creek in Jefferson and Leavenworth counties. The advisory is being issued because the flooding has washed away the transmission line from the source (wells) to the distribution system. Therefore, drinking water is not being produced and there is little to no water pressure. Jefferson Co. RWD #12 hopes to have the transmission line back into service later today. The advisory will remain in effect until the line is repaired, adequate disinfection residuals are maintained and results of bacteriological monitoring are negative.

This advisory does not affect those customers East of Stranger Creek because they are on a separate distribution system, which is provided water from the Leavenworth Water Department.

Residents in the advisory area should continue to boil their water until further notice. The advisories will remain in effect until testing of water samples indicate no evidence of contamination and all other conditions which place the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be adequately resolved.

Anyone served by the affected public water systems should observe the following precautions:

• Boil water vigorously for one minute prior to use. Boiling longer than three minutes may adversely affect the quality and taste of the water.
• 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 automatic icemaker. 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. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing or using backyard pools so water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.

The system and/or KDHE will notify area media when the boil water advisory has been rescinded. For more information, call Sharon Watson, KDHE, Topeka at (785) 296-5795.

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