PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER NOTICE

City of Apalachicola, PWS# 1190150

TO:  RESIDENTS OF CITY OF APALACHICOLA

A loss of water pressure has been experienced due to a water main break at the airport.

           

What should I do?

AS A PRECAUTION, WE ADVISE THAT ALL WATER USED FOR DRINKING, COOKING, MAKING ICE, BRUSHING TEETH, OR WASHING DISHES BE BOILED.  A ROLLING BOIL OF ONE MINUTE IS SUFFICIENT.  AS AN ALTERNATIVE, BOTTLED WATER MAY BE USED.  RESIDENTS ARE ALSO ADVISED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS WHEN BATHING, ESPECIALLY IMMUNOCOMPROMISED INDIVIDUALS, INFANTS, OR THE ELDERLY.

What happened?  What is being done?

A LosS IN SYSTEM PRESSURE COULD CAUSE BACKSIPHONAGE OF CONTAMINANTS, SUCH AS E. COLI BACTERIA, INTO THE WATER SYSTEM.  WATER CONTAINING E. COLI BACTERIA CAN BE CONSIDERED SAFE FOR DRINKING AND COOKING AFTER VIGOROUSLY BOILING THE WATER.  DISEASE SYMPTOMS caused by these bacteria MAY INCLUDE DIARRHEA, CRAMPS, NAUSEA, AND POSSIBLY JAUNDICE, AND ANY ASSOCIATED HEADACHE AND FATIGUE.  EPA HAS SET AN ENFORCEABLE DRINKING WATER STANDARD FOR E. COLI TO REDUCE THE RISK OF THESE ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS.  UNDER THIS STANDARD ALL DRINKING WATER MUST BE FREE OF THESE BACTERIA.

THE WATER SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY COLLECTING SAMPLES TO DETERMINE IF THE PRESENCE OF E. COLI BACTERIA EXISTS WITHIN THE WATER SYSTEM.  THIS PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER NOTICE WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED AND A BACTERIOLOGICAL SURVEY SHOWS THAT THE WATER IS SAFE TO DRINK.  THE ANTICIPATED DATE FOR RESCINDING THIS NOTICE IS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY CONTACT:  LEE MATHES, CITY ADMINISTRATOR, PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM CITY OF APALACHICOLA, 850-653-9319, AND CITY OF APALACHICOLA, 1 AVENUE E, APALACHICOLA, FL.

LEE MATHES

CITY ADMINISTRATOR

850-653-9319