> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.citizenjournal.us/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Boil water advisory still in effect for Reno County Rural Water District #8 after waterline break
- URL: https://www.citizenjournal.us/boil-water-advisory-still-in-effect-for-reno-county-rural-water-district-8-after-waterline-break/
- Published: 2026-09-08T14:18:07.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-08T14:18:07.000Z
- Description: The advisory covers the Highlands, the Bonnie Brae Subdivision and a half-mile south of Bonnie Brae on Hendricks.
- Author: Rica Simpson
- Tags: hutch, dnn, #news

Sign up for our free newsletter and never miss a story.

[Sign up free](https://subscribe.citizenjournal.us/?ref=citizenjournal.us)

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) placed customers of Reno County Rural Water District #8 under a boil water advisory Saturday, Sept. 5, after a waterline break cut pressure in the distribution system. The agency's release says the advisory will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved, and that a failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals.

As of Tuesday, Sept. 8, no public notice rescinding the advisory had surfaced. According to the release, only KDHE can issue a rescind order, and only after testing at a certified laboratory, regardless of whether the agency or the water supplier announced the advisory in the first place. The release sets no end date and does not say where the break occurred, whether it has been repaired or whether samples have been collected.

KDHE said customers should boil water for one minute before drinking or preparing food, or use bottled water. The agency also advises customers to throw out ice cubes and not to use ice from a household automatic icemaker, to flush the lines by running the water until it clears if tap water appears dirty, and to disinfect dishes and other food-contact surfaces by immersing them for at least a minute in clean tap water containing one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon. Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled, though children should be supervised so they do not ingest it, and people with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult a physician.

The advisory is at least the third disruption to a Reno County water system Citizen Journal has covered since September 2025\. Sylvia was placed under a boil water advisory July 25, 2026, after a well pump failure, and the city's public water supply was under a [do-not-drink order](https://www.citizenjournal.us/do-not-drink-order-issued-for-city-of-sylvia-public-water-supply/) — a step more restrictive than a boil advisory — in April 2026\. In Hutchinson, a boil water advisory issued for northeast neighborhoods in September 2025 was lifted the following day after water tests showed the system was safe.

Consumers with questions can contact the water system at 620-694-2524 or KDHE at 785-296-5514, and KDHE maintains a consumer information page on disruptions in water service. Restaurants and other food establishments with questions about the advisory's effect on their business can reach the Kansas Department of Agriculture's food safety and lodging program at 785-564-6767.

*This article was written using our proprietary AI system, Cronkite. The final decision to publish this article was made by a human. For more info, read our* [*AI policy*](https://www.citizenjournal.us/ai-policy/)*.*

---

---

Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below:

[Contact Us](https://www.citizenjournal.us/contact/)

---