Local Digest

Boil order issued for parts of Strong

Another boil order was issued Thursday for some Strong residents. The order is the third in as many weeks in the city.

According to a press release from the Arkansas Department of Health, about 40 Strong Waterworks customers residing from New London Road to the end of Forth Street are affected by the latest boil order.

The boil order was, according to the ADH, again issued “as a precautionary measure because of the possibility that contaminated water may have entered the distribution system as a result of a loss in normal system pressure.”

Affected customers are advised to boil any water that is to be used for drinking or food preparation. Also, ice cubes should be discarded and boiled water used to make new ice cubes, according to the ADH.

Water should be brought to a full rolling boil for at least one minute before being utilized for drinking or food preparation.

Bottled water is also safe to use in lieu of tap water, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

One should also be careful not to swallow water if bathing under a boil advisory. The CDC recommends giving children sponge baths to reduce the chances of their swallowing water.

If a dishwasher reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit, or if it has a sanitizing cycle, it should be safe to use, according to the CDC.

According to the ADH, the boil order will be lifted when one bacteriological sample indicates that the water is free of bacterial contamination and an adequate disinfectant level is established throughout the distribution system.