Wichita taking water samples; results expected Saturday
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Wichita boil water advisory
A major Wichita water main break on Oct. 7, 2021, led the Kansas Department of Heath and Environment to place the city and others that purchase water from its system under a boil water advisory.
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UPDATE - 8:10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 8: The city of Wichita said on social media that test results of water are expected Saturday morning. “KDHE will then advise whether the boil advisory can be lifted or will remain in effect at that time,” the city said on Twitter.
Original story:
Wichita won’t have answers Thursday night on whether the water is safe to drink, a city official confirmed.
More than 500,000 people in south-central Kansas — including all of Wichita and many of the surrounding towns and rural areas — fell under a boil water advisory after a main waterline broke near McAdams Park around 3 p.m.
Boil water advisories are required within 24 hours under federal law when a water system loses pressure.
Loss of pressure can cause drinking water to be inadequately treated, which can lead to bacteria, viruses and parasites entering the drinking water system. Drinking the unsafe water can lead to symptoms such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea or headaches.
On Thursday evening, the city closed valves surrounding the broken line and began the process of identifying and repairing the broken 42-inch main line.
Around 7:30 p.m., Thursday, City Manager Robert Layton said the city is taking samples of the water but won’t have results tonight.
Before the Kansas Department of Health and Environment rescinds the advisory, the city must correct the initial cause, flush and disinfect areas of concern, measure chlorine residuals throughout the distribution system, collect biological samples to be tested.
KDHE also rescinded an earlier advisory for the city of Bel Aire, who receives water service from the Chisholm Creek Utility Authority, not the city of Wichita.
Those samples must go to a KDHE accredited lab. Results are available in approximately 24 hours, according to the state agency.
If the samples come back bacteria-free, KDHE will lift the boil-water advisory, signaling the water is safe to drink without boiling it.
If the samples test positive for bacteria, the city must repeat the testing process again.
The boil water advisory won’t be officially lifted until KDHE sends an official news release announcing the water is safe.
This story was originally published October 7, 2021 at 8:45 PM.
