'No evidence of bacteriological contamination.' State rescinds Topeka boil water advisory
Topeka water service customers no longer must resort to using bottled water or boiling their tap water.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced in a news release Thursday that it had rescinded the boil water advisory it issued Sunday for water distributed by Topeka's city government.
"Laboratory testing samples collected from the city of Topeka indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved," the release said.
It said boil water advisories for Shawnee County Rural Water District 1C and the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority, which receive their water from the city of Topeka, remained in effect pending laboratory results.
"Per KDHE guidance, additional flushing of water lines is recommended to ensure fresh water to everycustomer," Topeka's city government said in a news release Thursday. "This flushing includes everyday water use activities like doing laundry or dishes, as well as taking a shower or flushing toilets, equating to 10-15 minutes of water usage.
Advisory ended earlier than expected
The advisory ended earlier than had been expected by Sylvia Davis, the city's director of utilities, who said Tuesday she thought it would last through at least Friday.
"Because of the work of utilities staff and the partnership between the city and KDHE, the sampling process was completed ahead of schedule, resulting in the advisory lift today instead of our anticipated date of Friday, January 19," the city said in Thursday's news release.
"We understand the inconvenience this advisory has been to residents and businesses, and very much appreciate your patience as city staff have been working diligently to resolve this matter," the release added.
It also recognized the hard work of city employees, particularly in the city's utilities department.
Break in chlorine gas pipe was found to have precipitated advisory
The KDHE issued the boil water advisory after chlorine residual levels at the city's water treatment plant were found to not meet the required minimum standard, putting the system at risk for bacterial contamination.
Staff members at that plant at 3245 N.W. Waterworks Drive noticed that "treatment numbers" were going down, meaning water quality was declining, Davis said.
"We knew it was a chlorine issue because we were not getting the chlorine numbers that we would expect to get," she said.
After adjustment of chemical dosages failed to resolve the problem, employees searched the plant and the break was found in a pipe located atop the edge of the roof of a building there, Davis said.
The break left city's tap water unfit for drinking, though residents were told they could still use it to bathe, do laundry or use in a dishwasher..
The city fixed the break and subsequently distributed fresh water throughout its system, said Taylor Bugg, the city’s co-interim communications director.
Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: State health department cancels city of Topeka boil water advisory
