(Avoca, Iowa) – Pottawattamie, Harrison, Shelby, Audubon, and Cass County residents and businesses served by Regional Water Rural Water Association, are being advised to boil their water before using it due to a problem in the distribution system resulting in a loss of pressure. The advisory was issued as a precaution until bacteria sample results are available.

Officials with the Regional Water Rural Water Association, today (Thursday), issued a recommendation for customers of their Avoca Treatment Plant, to boil water intended for drinking, or to use an alternative source of drinking water. The Advisory does not affect Underwood, McClelland, and the rural residents of these towns as they are on a different water system. The city of Exira is in an extreme conservation state until further notice.

AMU (Atlantic Municipal Utilities) water customers are NOT under the boiler order warning. AMU General Manager Steve Tjepkes, Friday, said they have received numerous calls. He wants everyone to know that AMU customers are not effected by the rural Cass County boil order.

A statement from Regional Water says there was a problem in the distribution system, and that the system lost pressure today (May 25, 2023). Due to the potential for bacterial contamination, it is recommended that the water be boiled before using for drinking or cooking or that an alternative source be used. The pressure loss is affecting over half of our system, prompting the system-wide boil advisory.

The Regional Water system is being repaired and repressurized, and bacteria samples will be collected in accordance with DNR protocol. In the meantime, residents and businesses are being notified via phone calls, website, Facebook, and through local county Emergency Management Administrators.

It is recommended to only drink the water after boiling it first.

• Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water.
• Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further notice.
• Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
• The water may be used for bathing and other similar purposes. If the water is colored, use an alternative source such as bottled water.”

Affected residents and businesses will be notified when the results are available, and the advisory is lifted.

For more information, please contact the Regional Water Office at 712-343-2413. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1(800) 426-4791.

When water service is restored, there may be air in your water piping and the water may be discolored. It is recommended to run the first water from a faucet that does not have an aerator screen, such as a bathtub or hose bib. Open the faucet slowly to allow the air to escape. Once the water is flowing, allow the faucet to run until it is clear. The water may be cloudy at first due to air in the water or particles that dislodged as the pipes filled with water. This should clear fairly quickly. If water is cloudy or colored throughout the house and it does not clear after allowing the water to run for several minutes, use an alternative source such as bottled water and contact the person listed above.