HUMBOLDT — A water line break has prompted the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to issue a boil water advisory for Humboldt.
The line break, at the intersection of Ninth and New York streets, was in the process of being repaired as of Wednesday afternoon. Officials from USD 258 said the schools were without water, but were able to bring in drinking water and have water available for restroom facilities.
The line break created a loss of pressure within the water supply system, which could result in a loss of chlorine residuals, putting the water at risk of bacterial contamination.
Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
- Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or 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 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 so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
The KDHE must get back a clean water test before the boil order is lifted.
For more information, contact the Humboldt water plant at 620-473-3131, or KDHE at 785-296-5514.
