Boil Water Advisory: Village of Potomac issues boil order

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Village of Potomac issues boil order

Village of Potomac issues boil order

Boil Water Advisory, reported Thursday, 19 Aug on commercial-news.com. POTOMAC A boil order has been issued for part of the village of Potomac until further notice. The order, sent out this morning, covers residents on East State Street from Grant Street to May Street.

Understanding a Boil Water Advisory

A boil water advisory, sometimes called a boil water notice or boil-water order, is a public health advisory or directive given by government offices or health authorities to communities when that community's drinking water is, or could be, contaminated by pathogens.

Under a boil water advisory, it is recommended that water be boiled for several minutes in advance of consumption or use. Boiling for this period will kill off as much of the bacteria and viral contamination as possible.

A common cause for issuance of a boil water advisory is water pressure loss due to a failure of a pumping station or a broken water line. While loss of pressure does not necessarily mean the water has been contaminated, it does mean that potential pathogenic materials in contact with water supply plumbing may be able to enter into the system and be carried to consumers. The normal pressure of the water supply system would prevent this inward diffusion, as any leaks would force contaminants away from the supply.

Generally a boil water advisory will be in effect until water pressure is restored and water can be tested for pathogens. If tests are done locally the purity of the water supply can be determined fairly quickly. In rural areas that have to send samples off for testing the boil water advisory may be in effect for a week or more.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Village of Potomac issues boil order

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