City of Dubuque Water Update for Wednesday

DUBUQUE, Iowa – A boil water advisory remains in effect for a portion of Dubuque following a water main break early yesterday.  The City of Dubuque is advising residents in the affected area to boil water before using for drinking and cooking or to use an alternative water source for drinking and cooking until final test results are available tomorrow.  A detailed map of the area and list of addresses in the area are available at www.cityofdubuque.org/water.

City of Dubuque Water Department staff reported this morning that water samples taken yesterday from throughout the area impacted by the advisory tested negative for contamination today. However, samples continue to be collected today and the samples require an 18-hour period for testing, so the results of samples taken today will not be available until tomorrow morning.  The boil advisory remains in effect until those test results are known.  There is a possibility that the boil advisory could be extended or a boil order issued if samples indicate contamination.  Final results of testing will be publicized tomorrow (Thursday, May 5) as soon as possible.

A boil advisory is a precautionary measure issued by a water utility to alert customers when there is a potential for impaired water quality. It is recommended that customers boil all water used in the preparation of food and beverages for consumption.

A boil order is a confirmation that contamination is present in the water system. It is essential that customers boil all water used in the preparation of food and beverage for consumption.

The boil advisory was issued yesterday morning and will be lifted tomorrow if test samples show no contamination issues.  City staff are taking water quality samples from throughout the zone impacted by the loss of pressure.

Water department staff followed proper protocol and industry standards in responding to the main break.  Through subsequent contact with the IDNR and their protocol, the water boil advisory was issued.  The City’s water and health services department staff believe residents in the affected area who consumed water before receiving news of the advisory are unlikely to experience any adverse health effects.

Even if someone consumed potentially contaminated water before they were aware of the boil water advisory, the likelihood of becoming ill is low.  Anyone experiencing symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, with or without fever, should contact their healthcare provider.  For more information, visit: www.cityofdubuque.org/health.