Updated 11:48 p.m.:
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Manhattan public water supply located in Riley County. The advisory was issued because of a loss of pressure. Inadequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Manhattan public water supply indicate no evidence of contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.
Updated 5:52 p.m.:
The City of Manhattan water treatment plant is now fully operational following an early morning power outage and subsequent issues with communication systems, according to a press release sent to KMAN from the City.
All water towers, with the exception of the northwest tower near Colbert Hills, are at normal levels. The issues at the northwest tower are indicative of continued high water demands in the area. The pump station that supplies this tower is fully operational and currently maintaining adequate pressures. Residents in this area are urged to continue to conserve water. Use water for essential matters only and discontinue irrigation practices until further notice.
All required bacteriological samples have been taken and are being delivered to the KDHE laboratory in Topeka. City staff has monitored the system and taken additional samples at various locations in the water distribution system. City staff is confident the results of the samples will result in zero contamination; however, the boil water advisory remains in effect. Only KDHE can lift the boil water advisory after results from the city’s samples become available. Those results are expected within 24 hours.
Updated 4:24 p.m.:
City of Manhattan says it is collecting samples for KDHE. Results are expected within 24 hours, but city staff are confident there is no water contamination. Boil advisory remains, however.
Colbert Hills/Grand Mere/Tatarrax area: Please continue to conserve water and turn off irrigation systems so your water tower can be refilled.
Updated 12:55 p.m.:
KMAN’s Cathy Dawes visits with Manhattan Public Works Director Rob Ott:
The City of Manhattan Water Treatment Plant experienced a power outage at approximately 2:40 a.m. August 15, 2016, resulting in low water levels in the city’s water towers. Power was restored around 7 a.m., and crews and technicians are working diligently to refill the towers and maintain adequate pressure in the system. Through communication with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), they decided to issue the following boil water advisory notice for water provided to all customers by the City of Manhattan. This not a mandatory order and is precautionary.
The City Public Works Department would like to provide the following additional information about the advisory. Areas that were specifically affected include Colbert Hills, Grand Mere and Tattarax Hills, other higher elevation areas, which experienced low to no water pressure after approximately 5 a.m. The general description of the area primarily affected is west of K-113 (Seth Child Road) and north of Kimball Avenue. Other areas of Manhattan may have experienced lower than normal water pressures. Technicians are currently monitoring chlorine residual levels in the system and additional water testing will occur and be submitted to KDHE. Results will be available within 24 hours, at which time the advisory will be lifted or extend as necessary.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for City of Manhattan public water supply located in Riley County. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a power outage resulting in a loss of pressure. Inadequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
The advisory took effect on August 15 and will remain in effect until conditions which placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be adequately resolved.
Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
- Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation, or use bottled water.
- Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
- Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
- Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
- If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
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A power outage at the water treatment plant in Manhattan has led to a call for extreme water conservation in the city. Riley County’s Rural Water District #1 is also impacted by the emergency water conservation status! KMAN’s Cathy Dawes spoke with City Manager Ron Fehr early Monday morning:
