A water main break early this (Wednesday) morning, in Audubon, has resulted in a precautionary BOIL WATER ADVISORY for any water that might otherwise be ingested through drinking, cooking and brushing teeth. Audubon City Clerk Joe Foran told KJAN News, the main fractured or broke under Tracy Street, near South Division Street. The incident happened at around 3-a.m. When the line broke, it lowered the level of water in the City’s water tower. When that occurs, a Boil Order or Advisory is issued as a precautionary measure, over concerns bacteria may enter the system.

The boil advisory will be in-place until the system is fixed. Once that happens, tests must be conducted to ensure the water is safe. Foran says the DNR will take two test samples, 16-hours apart. If those come back clean, the Boil advisory will be lifted. In the meantime, all water used for consumption should be boiled before use or you can choose to use bottled water. Showering and bathing is okay during a boil advisory but you need to be careful not to ingest water while doing so.

Check out the CDC’s Boil Water Advisory factsheet here: CDC-What-to-Do-During-a-Boil-Water-Advisory