KDHE rescinds boil advisory for Bel Aire, which last took Wichita water at noon
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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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After mistakenly issuing a boil water advisory for a Wichita suburb, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment rescinded the boil water advisory Bel Aire on Thursday night.
Bel Aire, located northeast of Wichita, receives drinking water from two sources: Wichita and the Chisholm Creek Utility Authority. The suburb last took water from Wichita at noon on Thursday, about three hours before a main water line broke near McAdams Park. All Wichita water customers remain under a boil advisory until KDHE officially determines the water is safe to drink.
A Wichita official said Thursday night that Wichita won’t have answers Thursday night on whether the water is safe to drink.
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 around 3 p.m. Thursday.
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.
City of Wichita water customers should take the following precautions until the boil advisory ends:
▪ Boil water for at least 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.
▪ Supervise children while they’re bathing and make sure water is not ingested.
▪ Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
This story was originally published October 7, 2021 at 8:46 PM.
