West Plains, MO. – A boil water advisory has been issued for patrons of the west system of Public Water District #2 in Howell County. The Junction Hill, Brandsville, and City of West Plains water systems are not included. The PWD issued a public statement on the advisory:
All patrons of Public Water Supply District #2 that are using water from the West System will have to boil their water until further notice, as a precautionary measure beginning Sunday May 7, 2023.
A well pump is being replaced Monday and Tuesday May 8th and 9th. This is because of emergency maintenance and repairs on the well pump, which require the pump to have to be pulled and replaced. At this time, the Pump Contractor is checking out the pump condition and pump controls and will schedule to start pulling the pump early Monday morning May 8, 2023. They should complete the replacement on Tuesday May 9th.
All patrons will experience low or no water pressure prior to completion of the pump repairs. Water pressure will be low in the system prior to completion of the pump repairs and water must be boiled at this time by all even if you don’t experience low pressure at your facility. Anytime a water user has low water pressure, it could cause possible water contamination, requiring the need for everyone to boil their water!
This boil order does not include patrons in Junction Hill System or the patrons of Brandsville, but does include West System users.
Water needs to be boiled until further notice, until after samples have been tested and safe results are received from the Department of Natural Resources. Water flowing from the new pump does not mean that the water is safe to drink without boiling, anytime repairs are made the system must be sampled and safe results received from the lab at DNR.
To ensure the safety of the water, customers should boil water vigorously for three (3) minutes prior to use for cooking or drinking. Customers also can disinfect food contact surfaces (dishes) by immersing them for at least one (1) minute in clean water containing at least fifty (50) parts per million (ppm) free chlorine. Adding one (1) teaspoon of unscented household chlorine bleach to each gallon of water (or 1.3 milliliters of bleach per liter of water) should result in a solution with more than fifty (50) parts per million (ppm) free chlorine, provided the water is free of hydrogen sulfide and significant levels of dissolved metallic and organic compounds.
For more information, contact Robert Hatley at the Districts office, (417) 256-8871.
