According to Carol Lyles Brough at the City of Salem Water Department, the boil water advisory continues on Sunday, Sept. 2.

Brough said repairs on the broken water main were completed on Saturday.

“I talked to Russell Brown this morning,” said Brough. “They took the first water sample to the lab this morning. We will wait 24 hours and take another.”

Brough said the first test results have not yet been returned. If that test is good, then the city must wait on the second test, which would be back sometime on Labor Day. 

The boil water advisory is for all City of Salem water customers including those also in the town of New Pekin.

All East Washington Water customers are also under a boil water advisory.

According to Nathan Risen, Superintendent of East Washington Rural Water Corporation, customers are asked to continue to boil any water you cook with or drink through Monday September 3.

Check back Tuesday September 4th for continuation or cancellation.

“We had a drop in our chlorine coming into our system on Friday, August 31,” said Risen. “We will be flushing to get our chlorine residuals back to normal levels.”

The City of Salem’s water main break occurred early on Friday, August 31. 

What to Do During a Boil Water Advisory

To boil water

• Fill a pot with water.
• Heat the water until bubbles come from the bottom of the pot to the top.
• Once the water reaches a rolling boil, let it boil for 1 minute.
• Turn off the heat source and let the water cool.
• Pour the water into a clean container with a cover for storage.

Disinfecting water

If you are unable to boil your water, disinfect it instead.

If tap water is clear:

• Use unscented bleach (bleach that does not have an added scent).

• Add 1/8 teaspoon (8 drops or about 0.75 milliliters) of unscented household liquid bleach to 1 gallon (16 cups) of water.

• Mix well and wait 30 minutes or more before drinking.
• Store disinfected water in clean container with a cover.

If tap water is cloudy:

• Filter water using clean cloth.
• Use unscented bleach  (bleach that does not have an added scent).
• Add 1/4 teaspoon (16 drops or 1.5 milliliters) of unscented household liquid bleach to 1 gallon (16 cups) of water.
• Mix well and wait 30 minutes or more before drinking.
• Store disinfected water in clean container with a cover.

Remember that containers may need to be sanitized before using them to store safe water.

To sanitize containers:

• Use unscented bleach (bleach that does not have an added scent).
• Make a sanitizing solution by mixing 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) of unscented household liquid bleach in 1 quart (32 ounces, 4 cups, or about 1 liter) of water.
• Pour this sanitizing solution into a clean storage container and shake well, making sure that the solution coats the entire inside of the container.
• Let the clean storage container sit at least 30 seconds, and then pour the solution out of the container.
• Let empty container air dry OR rinse it with clean water that has already been made safe, if available. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners. Open windows and doors to get fresh air when you use bleach.

Water filters

Boil tap water even if it is filtered. Most kitchen and other household water filters typically do not remove bacteria or viruses.

Preparing and cooking food

• Wash all fruits and vegetables with boiled water that has cooled or bottled water.
• Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute before adding food to cook.
• Use boiled water when preparing drinks, such as coffee, tea, and lemonade
• Wash food preparation surfaces with boiled water.

Feeding babies and using formula

• Breastfeeding is best. Continue to breastfeed. If breastfeeding is not an option:
• Use ready-to-use baby formula, if possible.
• Prepare powdered or concentrated baby formula with bottled water. Use boiled water if you do not have bottled water. Disinfect water for baby formula if you cannot boil your water (see above for directions on how to use bleach to disinfect water).
• Wash and sterilize bottles and nipples before use.
• If you cannot sterilize bottles, try to use single-serve, ready-to-feed bottles.

Ice

• Do not use ice from ice trays, ice dispensers, or ice makers.
• Throw out all ice made with tap water.
• Make new ice with boiled or bottled water.

Bathing and showering

Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.

Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.

The Washington County Council and Board of Commissioners are hosting a special meeting to allow the public to attend and participate in its budget discussion.

The meeting will include discussion about how the county can increase its revenue to offset losses caused by property tax caps. Options include increasing the local income tax or reducing credits that reduce residents’ property tax bills.

WSLM Radio and WRLW 17 TV will be on hand to record and live stream the meeting for those who cannot attend. 

The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, at the meeting room (former Circuit Courtroom) in the courthouse.

The budget hearing will begin at 6 p.m.

County officials continue to review the proposed 2019 budget of about $21.5 million.

After the budget is adopted, it will be subject to a state review before it is finalized.