A “boil water” advisory was issued Tuesday by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for some residents in Jefferson and Leavenworth counties living near Stranger Creek.

The advisory affects customers of Jefferson County Rural Water District 12 who live west of the creek.

The advisory was necessary because recent flooding washed away the transmission line from the wells to the distribution system, state officials said. Therefore, drinking water was not being produced and there was little water pressure. The advisory remains in effect until further notice. The line must be repaired and testing conducted.

Residents should boil water vigorously for one minute prior to use. Boiling longer than three minutes might adversely affect the quality and taste of the water. Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled.

The advisory doesn’t affect customers east of Stranger Creek because they are on a separate distribution system.