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A boil water advisory has been issued for the City of Edgerton residents living in Douglas County, east of Baldwin City.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for part of the City of Edgerton’s public water supply system, affecting customers in Douglas County.

The advisory took effect on Tuesday afternoon and will be in effect until the conditions that put the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. According to a press release from the KDHE, officials issued the advisory because of a loss of pressure related to water tower maintenance. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

The advisory has been isolated to Douglas County customers who are located within the following boundaries, and it does not impact residents in the residential core of the City of Edgerton:

• U.S. 56/North 200 Road, from Kansas Highway 33/East 2300 Road to East 1900 Road.

• North 100 Road, from County Line Road west to East 2200 Road

• Kansas Highway 33/East 2300 Road, from Woodson Road north to U.S. 56/North 200 Road

The KDHE suggests customers in this area should take the following precautions:

• Boil water for at least one minute before using it for drinking, cooking or food preparation. Alternatively, use bottled water.

• Do not use ice from household ice makers, and discard any existing ice cubes.

• If your tap water appears discolored or cloudy, run the water until it clears before using.

• To disinfect dishes and other surfaces that come into contact with food, soak them for at least one minute in clean tap water mixed with one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.

• Bathing water generally does not need to be boiled, but children should be supervised to prevent accidental ingestion. People with open wounds or serious skin conditions should consider consulting a healthcare provider before bathing.

The release said only KDHE can rescind the order following testing at a certified laboratory.