photo by: Contributed

A close-up map shows that RWD 6 includes the area just west of Lecompton Road to just south of the Farmers Turnpike, north to the Kansas River and east to East 1200 Road, or Kasold Drive.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the Douglas County Rural Water District No. 6 public water supply system, which is in the far northern part of the county and does not include Lawrence.

It does include the Lecompton area.

KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

• Boil water for 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 icemaker.

• If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.

• 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. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.

The advisory took effect on Monday and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved.