Boil-water advisory still in effect for North Kansas City after water main repairs
Utility crews have completed repairs to a water main break in North Kansas City, but a boil-water advisory remains in effect through Monday, officials said.
North Kansas City is working with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to test and monitor the city’s water quality, according to a news release Saturday.
Over the next two days, the city will test its water to ensure that it meets the requirements for public drinking water and is safe to drink. This process takes a minimum of 48 hours and may take longer if issues arise during the testing process, the city said in a release.
The main water system rupture, which happened in Macken Park on Thursday evening, caused other minor breaks around the city, officials said. The breaks left homes experiencing low water pressure on Thursday and Friday, The Star previously reported.
North Kansas City officials did not say what caused the initial water main break. No other information was immediately available Saturday.
The boil-water advisory will be canceled after the city meets all Missouri Department of Natural Resources requirements.
“A Boil Water Advisory is issued as a precautionary measure,” Kim Nakahodo, a spokeswoman for North Kansas City, said in a release.
“An advisory does not mean that the drinking water is contaminated, but rather that it could be contaminated, so precautions should be taken until drinking water quality testing can be completed to confirm that no bacterial contamination is present,” she said.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources recommends that residents continue to boil their water for at least 48 hours even after the city’s water system is repaired.
While the boil advisory is in effect, North Kansas City Water Utilities customers are asked to boil all tap water for at least 3 minutes before using it for cooking, cleaning or drinking.
The Clay County public health department is working with food vendors around North Kansas City to maintain safe food preparation standards in kitchens with potentially tainted tap water. Some North Kansas City businesses were forced to close as repairs were made.
The Star’s Ilana Arougheti contributed to this story.
