(Avoca, Iowa) – Officials with the Avoca-based Regional Water Rural Water Association (RWRWA) announced today (Thursday), that a Boil Advisory which went into effect on May 14, 2025, has been lifted effective immediately, for the town of Portsmouth. This strictly applies to the residents within the city limits of Portsmouth. Regional Water was notified by the certified operator of Portsmouth that they had completed their two sets of bacteria samples, and all samples came back negative for bacteria. As such, the boil advisory is no longer in effect for this town.

The Boil Advisory remains in effect ONLY for those living within the city limits of Panama while they continue to collect their samples. Due to a sample bottle breaking while being analyzed at the lab, a new sample has to be collected. It is anticipated that the City of Panama will collect a new sample and complete analysis by this Friday. RWRWA thanks those who helped deliver sample bottles to the sampling points; who trained parties on how to collect the samples; for running the samples between two laboratories; and to the laboratories who handled the large number of samples coming to their respective facility for analysis.

Officials say Regional Water’s water towers across the system have maintained pressure throughout the last week. Customers’ conservation practices and measures have proven helpful in filling the water towers.

The completion of the temporary booster pump is moving along. The chemical building was delivered Monday morning. Approximately 15 of the 18 miles of the new pipe have been pressure tested. Construction crews discovered a leak under one of the creek crossings along the pipeline route during pressure testing and are working to repair it. Construction crews are working on connecting the pipeline and power throughout this week. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Regional Water hopes the connection between the City of Council Bluffs and Regional Water’s system will be completed the week of June 9th.

While the water towers are currently in good standing, please continue to be mindful of water conservation and use. Regional Water wants to thank its customers for their patience and perseverance over the last several months. “We know it has not been easy,” they said in a press release, and customers should know, “Regional Water continues to work closely with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to ensure safe drinking water is delivered to its customers.”

To find information about the Iowa DNR’s Boil Advisory protocol, please visit our website at: https://www.iowadnr.gov/media/5348/download?inline

For more information, please contact the Regional Water Office at 712-343-2413.