Bottled/Boil Water Advisory
In order to repair the water main break on Thursday Feb 27, 2020, we enacted a partial system shut-off affecting more than 25% of our service area. When the system loses pressure, there is the potential for contamination and the DNR requires a boil/bottled water advisory. We will sample the water in coming days and advise when the results show it is found safe (no biological contamination).
What precautions should be taken at this time?
Until advised of a safe sample result, you should boil your tap water or use commercially bottled water for drinking, food preparation, and making ice. If you boil water, the water should reach a rolling boil for at least one minute, then cool. Ice should be purchased or made from boiled or bottled water. Any old ice, food, and beverages prepared with unsafe water since the loss of pressure on Thursday morning should be discarded. The water is fine to use for flushing, washing, and showering, however extra precaution should be taken for infants, immune-compromised individuals, or persons with open sores or wounds. Dishes may be washed only if thoroughly dried or if a high temperature automatic dishwasher is used, of if a capful of chlorine is added to the rinse water.
Is the water unsafe?
We don’t know for sure if the water contains anything harmful, but this is a precaution. We rely on good outward pressure in buried water mains and plumbing to prevent dirt and bacteria from entering pipes. When a loss of pressure occurs, small leaks may allow contaminants to enter the pipes from the soil or from bad plumbing connections. It also stirs up sediment and iron that sometimes forms coating inside pipes. These contaminants are usually quickly flushed out and any bacteria are killed by chlorine. Yet we do not want to use the water for drinking until samples prove the water is safe.
What is being done to correct the problem?
The water main break was repaired Thursday early afternoon and water pressure restored as promptly as possible. After pressure was restored, we initiated chlorination to disinfect the reservoir, pressure tank and distribution system. Chlorination will continue to run for 3 full days.
When can we drink the water again?
For the next few days you may notice that the water is cloudy at times, or contains a chlorine smell. Water samples will be collected and it will take a minimum of 24 hours after three samples are collected for results to be known and for this advisory to be lifted. We will advise when this happens by e-mail and a posting on the web site, but expect that to occur no sooner than Sunday.
THIS ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. This precautionary advisory is required by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources pursuant to Wisconsin Administrative Code section NR811.08(4).
If you have questions please contact:
Marian Heights Hotline: 262-212-2278 or contact us.
DNR Contact: Joe Nadolski
Department of Natural Resources- Milwaukee Office
Phone: (414) 263-8522