WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — State health officials have issued a boil water advisory for a Cowley County town. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says the advisory applies to customers who get their water from the City of Atlanta public water system.
The KDHE says the system lost pressure due to a valve replacement project. When the pressure drops, chlorine residuals can drop, and bacteria can get in.
Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
- Boil water for one minute before drinking it or using it in food preparation, or use bottled water.
- Dispose of ice cubes, and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
- If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
- Disinfect dishes and other food-contact surfaces by immersing them for at least one minute in clean tap water containing one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
- Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. However, children must be supervised while bathing to prevent water from being ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
Only the KDHE can end the boil water advisory. That will only happen after the water has been tested at a laboratory and is deemed safe.
For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 620-394-2220 or KDHE at 785-296-5514. You can also find helpful information on the KDHE’s Public Water System website.