Residents in southern Lyon County remain in a boil water advisory as the source point of the alert remains hidden.
Lyon County Rural Water District 3 and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued the alert late Thursday after a water main break. Office Manager Julie Langley says staff and Kansas Rural Water Association representatives searched an area near Road J between Roads 30 and 60 for much of Thursday without success. A thermal imaging drone has been in the air as part of the effort Friday morning.
Langley says the advisory affects around 50 customers in areas fed by the district’s south standpipe on Road 50 near Kansas Highway 99. Areas fed by the district’s west standpipe near Olpe City Lake, including Olpe, are not impacted.
The south standpipe isn’t completely drained, but Langley says there is currently no usable water. The district plans to install several valves as a way to pinpoint the leak area.
Once the situation is resolved, RWD 3 will submit at least one set of water samples to KDHE for testing and review. KDHE will lift the advisory once all concerns about water safety are resolved.
In the meantime, RWD 3 says customers should follow several precautions:
*Flush any water lines that appear dirty by letting water run until it clears
*Boil water for 60 seconds before drinking or food preparation. Use bottled water if you decide not to boil water
*Dispose of all ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker
*Disinfect dishes and other “food contact surfaces” by immersing them in a solution of one teaspoon of unscented bleach per gallon of clean tap water
*Bathing water generally does not have to be boiled, but children need to be supervised so they don’t drink the water. People with cuts or severe rashes should consult their doctors
Consumers with questions can call RWD 3 at 620-654-3561 or KDHE at 785-296-5514. Restaurants or other food establishments with questions can email kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767.
