Boil water advisory in effect for Monroe County until Monday 9am
A precautionary boil water order is in place for all households receiving water from the city of Bloomington after the city’s utility violated a drinking water standard on Friday.
The boil water advisory is in effect until Monday, 9:00 a.m. The boil water advisory applies to all households in Monroe County that are connected to a water utility.
What was the reason for the order to boil the water?
Regular measurements on Friday found that the turbidity level of the drinking water had reached the statewide maximum of 1 unit, City of Bloomington Utilities reported in a press release on Saturday. A high turbidity level indicates that the drinking water may contain higher concentrations of disease-causing organisms.
According to the press release, sand being prepared for a new filter leaked from the water treatment plant’s tank, causing increased turbidity. CBU staff have been monitoring the water since the spill and turbidity levels have slowly decreased, the city reported.
The city said no pollutants were found in the water.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) requires all public water systems to issue a precautionary boil water advisory when turbidity of one unit or more is detected. All Monroe County residents should follow these instructions:
- If your water is cloudy, run COLD water from a sink or tub until clear water comes out of the faucet.
- Boil all water for drinking, cooking and oral hygiene for at least 2 minutes before consumption.
- For other purposes it is not necessary to boil water.
What are the risks associated with high turbidity?
According to the CBU, turbidity has no health effects. However, suspended particles caused by turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a breeding ground for microbial growth. Turbidity can indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea and associated headaches. If you experience one or more of these symptoms and they persist, contact your doctor. People with severely weakened immune systems, infants and some elderly people may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice from their doctor about drinking water.
To ensure that all harmful bacteria and other microbes are killed, water for drinking, cooking and making ice should be boiled and cooled before consumption. The water should be brought to a vigorous boil and boiled for two minutes.
Instead of boiling water, individuals can purchase bottled water or obtain water from another suitable drinking water source.
How can I receive emergency alerts?
Go to co.monroe.in.us and click on “Resident Alert Sign Up.” This tool allows CBU and other agencies to quickly get important information to people, including tornado warnings and advisories about road closures, missing persons and evacuations specific to the addresses you have registered or the entire county. Messages can be sent via text, email or landline phone.
