By Hutchinson Tribune Staff
HUTCHINSON—The City of Hutchinson issued a Boil Water Advisory on Wednesday for water users in the high pressure zone of its water system in the northeast part of the city.
The advisory covers the Spyglass, Quail Ridge, Panorama, Lakeview, Hillcrest, Woodlands, and Sandhills neighborhoods, but not Prairie Hills Middle School, the city said in a news release. The city said it issued the advisory after a water line break that resulted in a brief loss of pressure, which may cause a loss of chlorine residuals in the system and create a risk of bacterial contamination.
The city advised customers in the affected area to follow the following precautions until further notice:
- If tap water appears dirty, flushing the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
- Boiling water for a full minute prior to drinking or food preparation, or alternatively using bottled water.
- Disposing of ice cubes and not using ice from an automatic icemaker.
- Disinfecting dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersing them in clean water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
The city said water used for bathing didn’t need to be boiled, but children should be supervised while bathing to ensure water is not ingested. People with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians, the city said.
The city said only the Kansas Department of Health and Environment can rescind the advisory, following testing by a certified laboratory.
Water users can contact the city at 620-694-1900 or KDHE at 785-296-5514 or visit https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service for more information. Restaurants and other food businesses can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety and lodging program at kda.fsl@ks.gov or 785-564-6767 with any questions about the advisory’s effects on their business.