Update: The BPU has lifted the boil water advisory as of Feb. 1. Residents are advised to flush their plumbing, and discard ice and any water filters that may have been affected.

The Board of Public Utilities issued a boil water advisory for an area in the Riverview neighborhood of eastern KCK. The specific area is bounded by 9th Street and 18th Street to the east and west and by Freeman Avenue and Riverview Avenue to the north and south (see map above).

The following measures are recommended by the BPU:

• If tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
• Boil water for one minute before drinking or food preparation, or use bottled water.
• Dispose of ice cubes; do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
• Disinfect dishes and other food-contact surfaces by immersing them for at least one minute in clean tap water containing one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
• Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Children should be supervised while bathing to prevent water from being ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.

The advisory is the result of a line break that has the possibility of introducing bacteria to the water system. The advisory will be rescinded by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment after the water system has been tested to confirm its safety.

For questions, residents can contact BPU customer service at 913-573-9190 or KDHE at 785-296-5514.