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Boil Water Advisories and Notices

A Boil Water ADVISORY is a public health advisory given by the water utility to consumers when a community's drinking water has the potential to be contaminated.  Boil Water NOTICES are only issued when there is a confirmed contamination.

Boil Water Advisory


What does this mean?

  • A loss of pressure means there is a potential that fecal contamination or other disease-causing organisms could enter the distribution system. Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly and people with severely compromised immune systems.

  • The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.

 

What should you do?

  • Until further notice, only bottled or boiled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. If you have any concern regarding water you may have collected/stored or ice you may have made during the advisory, discard immediately.

  • Water intended for the uses cited in the paragraph above must be boiled vigorously for 3-5 minutes and then allowed to cool prior to consumption.

  • An alternative treatment method is to add 8 drops of standard, unscented, household bleach (4%-6% free chlorine) to one gallon of water. Allow the mixture to stand for a minimum of 30 minutes before using. Do not use granular bleach.

 

What is being done?

  • Crews are actively working to make necessary repairs. Following an intense flushing of the distribution system, samples will be collected and analyzed for bacteria by the laboratory. Lab results will be reported 24 hours after the samples are taken and the advisory may be extended or repealed at that time. You will receive a Repeal of the Boil Water Advisory when testing is complete and the water is considered safe to drink without boiling. For further information, please contact our office at 843-871-0810.

 

Boil Water Repeal


Summerville CPW will notify customers affected by the boil water notice that they are no longer need to boil water prior to use and/or consumption.  Crews will have completed necessary maintenance/repairs in the contaminated area. Following the repairs, intense flushing of the distribution system will have been performed and water samples will have been collected and analyzed for bacteria by the laboratory. Lab results will have concluded the water is now safe for normal use.