The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for a portion of southwest Manhattan’s public water supply until further notice.
The area of town under the advisory includes a northern boundary from Wildcat Creek at Seth Child Road near the RCPD headquarters and Poyntz Avenue at Delaware, two blocks east of Manhattan High School — to a southern boundary at Stagg Hill Road and Rosencutter near the Asian Market.
It also includes from east to west — South Delaware Road to EJ Frick Drive at Amherst Avenue (near Warner Park), as well as Tamarak and Arbor Drive.
Those living in that area should consider the following steps.
- Flush water lines by letting the water run until it clears if tap water appears dirty.
- 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 ice maker.
- 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.
The boil water advisory is a result of two water main breaks early Tuesday in west Manhattan.
The advisory is a result of multiple water main breaks that occurred Tuesday. Assistant Director of Public Works Randy DeWitt says there was no known contamination and that the advisory is strictly procedural because some areas of the water system dropped below the water pressure threshold of 20 pounds per square inch (psi).
A second break developed near Manhattan High School, where the northbound lane of Westwood will be closed while repairs are made. Water is off on Westwood Road (the Poyntz Ave. curve) from Oak Street through approximately Sunset Ave.
