Precautionary Boil Water Advisory for a Portion of the City of Newport Public Water System Expanded
The boil water advisory issued by the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) yesterday for a portion of customers of the City of Newport Public Water System has been expanded to a second area because of a second water main break. Affected customers should boil their water before consuming it. The second water main break occurred overnight, while the first break was being repaired. The second area is near Valley Road. The second water main break caused a loss of water pressure. A drop in pressure could allow bacteria to enter the system.
Affected customers are being contacted directly by the City of Newport Public Water System. An updated notice posted by the City of Newport Public Water System includes a map of both affected areas. Approximately 2,000 customers were affected by the boil water advisory issued on July 19. The second area under the boil water advisory has 136 additional service connections.
For customers on a boil water advisory, all water used for consumption should be boiled vigorously for at least one minute. This recommendation includes water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation. Alternatively, customers can use bottled water. Infants and young children should not be bathed in this water because they may swallow it accidentally. Anyone else using this water for bathing or showering should be careful to avoid swallowing the water. Additional guidance is available online.
Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. RIDOH is communicating guidance to restaurants and other food establishments in the area.
Water main breaks can cause low, or no, water pressure. Low or no pressure increases the risk of contamination that can enter through cracks in the pipes or in areas without proper backflow preventers. Affected customers should continue to boil their water until City of Newport repairs the water main break, increases the chlorine in the system (within safe levels), flushes the pipes, and collects one day of bacteria samples at each routine sampling location, as long as the samples are absent of bacteria. An announcement will be made when the advisory is lifted. Water system administrators are currently alerting affected customers about this advisory and will alert customers when it is lifted.
If the water becomes contaminated with human or animal waste, microbes in these wastes can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They pose a special health risk for infants, young children, and people with severely compromised immune systems.
A healthcare provider should be contacted if someone is on this water system and has diarrhea and any of the following symptoms:
- Fever over 101.5° F, measured orally
- Blood in the stool
- Prolonged vomiting that prevents keeping liquids down (which can lead to dehydration)
- Signs of dehydration, including a decrease in urination, a dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up
- Diarrheal illness that lasts more than 3 days.
Customers with questions can call City of Newport, at 401-845-5600.