(COUNCIL BLUFFS) — Regional Water Rural Water Association has implemented a BOIL WATER order for some regional water customers in northeast Pottawattamie County. Affected customers are also urged to conserve water at this time. A fire at Regional Water’s facility north of Avoca has disable their capability to pump water to some of their towers that supply areas of Pottawattamie, Shelby, and Harrison Counties.

Due to the loss of pumping capability there is a potential for interruption of service later this afternoon or this evening until pumping operations can be reestablished, according to estimates provided by Regional Water staff. The situation has also forced the issuance of a boil order for water used in consumption and food preparation. Doug Reed, Emergency Management Director for Pottawattamie County, said “Emergency Management officials in Shelby and Pottawattamie Counties are working closely together and communicating regularly with Regional Water in order to continually assess the situation and assist in providing public information or other assistance as may be needed.

Pott. County EMA

“Obviously the potential loss of water service to residents in this region is a concern; that concern is just amplified with the current drought conditions, forecast temperatures over the next 48 hours, and this being one of the largest holiday weekends of the year. We’ll monitor the situation closely and both county emergency management agencies are postured to provide whatever assistance may be required until pumping capability is restored.”

Impacted Regional Water customers can get more information by visiting Regional Water’s website and Facebook page. Residents of Pottawattamie County are also encouraged to register for Alert Iowa at https://pcema-ia.org in order to receive emergency notification for situations like this. The system has already been used for this event to notify over 500 area residents and businesses in the county of the potential impact.