Dubuque, Iowa Water Boil Order Issued on Friday

The City of Dubuque Water Department has issued a BOIL WATER ADVISORY for customers in a service area affected by a water main break in an Edith Street neighborhood between Burden St. and Sheridan Rd. that caused a loss of pressure in the water distribution system. Approximately 30 residential water customers are impacted by this advisory. See map below or CLICK HERE for a map of the affected properties.

Due to the potential for bacterial contamination, it is recommended that customers boil water before drinking or using for cooking or that an alternative water source be used until the advisory is lifted.

The water main repair is currently under way and, after service is restored and the system is repressurized, bacteria samples will be collected and tested for contamination. The City is working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and testing takes approximately 48 hours for confirmation.

Please note that this is a boil water advisory, NOT a boil water order. Boil water orders are only issued when/if contamination is confirmed through test results. This boil advisory is a precaution until test results are received. Customers in the affected service area will be contacted by phone and door hangers. An update will be issued when the results are available and the advisory is lifted or a boil order is declared.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Do not drink tap water without boiling it first. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
Until the advisory is lifted, boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, and food preparation.
Bring water to a boil, let boil for one minute, and let it cool before drinking/using.
Unboiled tap water may be used for bathing and other non-drinking purposes.

When water service is restored, there may be air in your water piping and the water may be discolored. It is recommended to run the first water from a faucet that does not have an aerator screen, such as a bathtub or hose bib. Open the faucet slowly to allow the air to escape. Once the water is flowing, allow the faucet to run until the water is clear. The water may be cloudy at first due to air in the water or particles that dislodged as the pipes filled with water. This should clear fairly quickly. If water is cloudy throughout the house and it does not clear after allowing the water to run for several minutes, contact the City of Dubuque Water Department at 563-589-4291 or visit www.cityofdubuque.org/water.

General guidelines on ways to decrease the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1.800.426.4791.

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