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Boil Water Advisory Issued for City of Hutchinson, Reno Co.

Rica Simpson

• 1 min read
Boil Water Advisory Issued for City of Hutchinson, Reno Co.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The City of Hutchinson has issued a boil water advisory for customers in the High Pressure Zone effective Tuesday following a water line break that caused a brief loss of pressure in the system.

The advisory affects residents in the Spyglass, Quail Ridge, Panorama, Lakeview, Hillcrest, Woodlands and Sandhills neighborhoods. Prairie Hills Middle School is not included in the affected area.

City officials said the water line break resulted in a loss of pressure that could compromise the system's ability to maintain adequate chlorine residuals, creating a potential safety concern.

"Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and is a safety concern that the City takes seriously," officials said in a statement.

Customers in the affected areas should take the following precautions until further notice:

  • Boil water for one minute before drinking or food preparation, or use bottled water
  • If tap water appears dirty, flush water lines by running water until it clears
  • Dispose of ice cubes and avoid using ice from household automatic icemakers
  • Disinfect dishes and food contact surfaces by immersing for at least one minute in clean tap water containing one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water
  • Water for bathing generally does not need to be boiled, though children should be supervised to prevent ingestion. Those with cuts or severe rashes should consult their physicians.

The advisory will remain in effect until conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. Only the Kansas Department of Health and Environment can issue a rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

Customers with questions may contact the water system at 620-694-1900 or KDHE at 785-296-5514. Consumer information is available on KDHE's Public Water System Consumer Information webpage at http://www.kdheks.gov/.../emergencyr.../water_disruption.htm.

Restaurants and food establishments with questions about how the advisory affects their operations may contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture's food safety and lodging program at kda.fsl@ks.gov or 785-564-6767.