All patrons of Public Water Supply District No. 2 from the Junction Hill will have to boil their water until further notice as a precautionary measure beginning Monday, announced Operator Tyler Stephens.
Maintenance on the water tower will begin at 7 a.m. Monday, causing the tower to be taken offline for a few hours, Stephens explained. The structure will be drained, cleaned, inspected and sanitized with chlorine, then will have to be refilled with fresh water while the well pump continues to supply water to distribution lines for patrons to use.
“Anytime maintenance is done on a water line or tower, it could cause possible water contamination, requiring the need for everyone to boil their water,” said Stephens. “Even if you don't lose water pressure, you still must boil your water until safe samples are received from the tank.”
Water samples taken after the completed installation of the new pump will be sent to the Department of Natural Resources Lab for testing, a process that typically takes two to three days, meaning it could be until Thursday or Friday before the lab sends results back.
The maintenance is expected to be completed the same day it begins, Stephens added.
This boil order does not include patrons in the area southwest of West Plains or in the Brandsville System area.
To ensure the safety of the water, customers should boil water vigorously for three minutes prior to use for cooking or drinking. Customers also can disinfect dishes by immersing them for at least one minute in clean water containing at least 50 parts per million (ppm) free chlorine. Adding a teaspoon of unscented household chlorine bleach to each gallon of water should result in a solution with more than 50 ppm free chlorine, provided the water is free of hydrogen sulfide and significant levels of dissolved metallic and organic compounds.
For more information, contact Stephens at the district office, 417-256-8871.
