The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the public water system at Riverchase Mobile Home Park in Riley County.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

• Boil water for one minute before drinking or preparing food, or use bottled water.
• Discard ice cubes and do not use ice from an automatic household ice maker.
• If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by running the water until it runs clear.
• Disinfect dishes and other food-contact surfaces by immersing them in clean tap water containing one teaspoon of odorless household bleach per gallon of water for at least one minute.
• The water used for bathing generally does not need to be boiled. Children should be supervised during bathing to ensure that they do not swallow water. People with cuts or severe rashes should consult their doctor.

The warning went into effect on August 13, 2024, and will remain in effect until the conditions that exposed the system to bacterial contamination are corrected. KDHE officials issued the warning because a power outage caused a pump failure that resulted in low pressure in the distribution system. If adequate pressure is not maintained, there is a potential risk of bacterial contamination of the system.

Regardless of whether the public water utility or the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) issued a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the lifting order after testing at a certified laboratory.

If you have any questions, please contact the water system at 248-626-0737 or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For more information for consumers, visit KDHE’s PWS consumer information webpage: kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruption

Restaurants and other food establishments with questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Shelter Program at [email protected] or call 785-564-6767.