Boil Order Issued For Parts Of Athens - WCMH: News, Weather, and Sports for Columbus, Ohio

Boil Order Issued For Parts Of Athens

The City of Athens has issued a boil order for residents living on Madison Avenue between East State and Spring streets.

Residents are advised to boil their water until 11:00 p.m. on Monday. 

The boil order was issued Sunday as a precautionary measure. The pressure in the water distribution center dropped below 20 psi and the system is now compromised. 

Here are some tips to keep in mind if a boil order is issued in your area: 

• Bring water to a full boil, and boil for three minutes prior to use.
• Use only boiled water for drinking, preparing food or baby formula.
• To improve the flat taste of boiled water, keep cold in refrigerator.
• Put a cup over your faucets as a reminder to not use tap water – not even to brush your teeth! Instead of boiling water, you can disinfect water by adding one teaspoon unscented chlorine laundry bleach for every five gallons of water. Let stand 30 minutes before using.
• Be sure to use sanitized food grade containers for storing water.
• To disinfect water storage containers, pour a solution of one tablespoon of unscented chlorine bleach to a gallon of water into a container. Let the solution remain in the container for 10 minutes, then pour out the solution. Rinse with purified water.
• Dispose of ice cubes made when a boil order is in place.
• When washing dishes, make sure to sterilize dishes with a final dip in water that has one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water. Disposable tableware is an option during a boil order.
• Water for bathing doesn't need to be boiled. Supervise children to avoid water being ingested.
• Immuno-compromised persons such as those with cancer receiving chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, elderly people, and infants may be more susceptible to infection by Crytosporidium and other microbial contaminants, and should be extra careful.