Residents in Cass County served by the Wiota Water Supply are being asked to boil their water for cooking and drinking beginning on Tuesday and not to give the water to infants under six months of age under any circumstance. Wiota Water Supply is taking well #4 off-line for repairs on November 8th and will be placing well #2 on-line. Well #2 is known to be high in nitrates and the City of Wiota is collecting samples to test but results of those tests likely won’t be known before well #2 goes on-line.  Due to the potential for bacterial contamination it is being recommended that the water be boiled before using for drinking or cooking, or that an alternative source be used.

Nitrates are not reduced by boiling and pose a health risk to infants under six months of age because they cannot process them the same way as older children and adults. This being the case you should not give the water to infants or use it to prepare formula or other beverages for infants.  Bottled water or other water low in nitrates should be used for infants until further notice.

Boiling kills bacteria or other organisms in the water and that is why it is recommended before using the water for any consumption purpose for anyone over 6 months until further notice.

For more information please contact Mark Hansen, Water Superintendent, at 712-249-3697. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available form the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.  The City will notify residents when sample results are obtained following repairs and the advisory will be lifted when proper levels are obtained. The system is working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to resolve the situation.