Ark Valley News - KDHE places boil advisory on Valley Center

KDHE places boil advisory on Valley Center
By The News staff
Last Updated: January 22, 2018

A water line in an older Valley Center neighborhood broke Thursday and some residents were without water for several hours early Friday.

City crews worked through the night to repair the line at Second and Birch. The city shut down water at several locations to ease the pressure. All areas of the city were either without water or had low pressure for several hours.

With low or no pressure in the lines, which effects chlorine levels, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued a boil advisory for all of Valley Center, City Administrator Scott Hildebrand said Friday.

About 8:30 a.m. Friday, Hildebrand said the line had been repaired, and public works staff was turning on the water.

The affected four-inch cast iron water line was installed in the 1940s, public works director Kelley Zellner said.

"Staff will be working with KDHE and taking the necessary steps, so we are in hopes that the advisory will be lifted on Saturday," Hildebrand said.

The Valley Center school district issued the following announcement to parents Friday morning:

"The district is currently taking the following measures at all our schools:

"Staff is being notified and announcements are being made to students

"Water fountains are being turned off

"We are purchasing bottled water for staff/student use

"We have assessed the school lunches, and they will not be affected as any item needing water for preparation must be boiled
anyway

"We are notifying visiting teams for the January Jam of the need to bring water

"Please know staff and student safety is of utmost importance and we will do everything we can to make sure we are limiting access to non-boiled water."

The KDHE issues this news release about 9:30 a.m. Friday:

"The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the public water supply located in the City of Valley Center, in Sedgwick County. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

"The advisory took effect on January 19, 2018 and will remain in effect until conditions which place the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be adequately resolved.

"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.

"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.

"If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.

"Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure. Regardless of whether it's the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory."