A Boil Advisory Issued for Kankakee County

A boil advisory has been issued for areas of Kankakee County, including Kankakee, Bradley, Bourbonnais, Grant Park, Manteno, Aroma Park, Limestone, University Park, and Green Garden.

A “Boil Advisory” is a notice issued to water consumers to boil all drinking and culinary water for at least five minutes before use. A boil advisory is issued by proper drinking water authorities to the consumers of a public water supply whenever analysis results indicate the water being supplied may have or has become microbiologically contaminated, the sanitary integrity of the water system may have been compromised, or following an occurrence of low water pressure. A boil advisory may be a necessary and required precaution to help prevent a possible water-borne illness outbreak.

CDC provides additional guidelines to use while under a boil advisory…

• Use bottled or boiled water for drinking and to prepare and cook food.
• Boil tap water even if it is filtered (for example, by a home water filter or a pitcher that filters water).
• Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator.
• Breastfeeding is the best infant feeding option. If formula feeding your child, provide ready-to-use formula, or infant water for mixing if possible.

Handwashing…

• In many cases, you can use tap water and soap to wash hands during a boil water advisory. Follow the guidance from your local public health officials.
• Be sure to scrub hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Then, rinse them well under running water.
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.

If your local health officials issue a boil water advisory, you should use bottled water or boil tap water. This is because a boil water advisory means your community’s water has, or could have, germs that can make you sick.

Bathing and showering…

• Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.
• Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.

Brushing teeth…

• Brush teeth with boiled or bottled water. Do not use tap water that you have not boiled first.

Washing dishes…

• If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils during a boil water advisory.
• Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if: The water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit (66°Celsius), or the dishwater has a sanitizing cycle.
• Sanitize all baby bottles.
• To wash dishes by hand: Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water. In a separate basin, add one teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water. Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute. Let the dishes air dry completely before using again.

Laundry…

• It is safe to wash clothes as usual.

Cleaning…

• Clean washable toys and surfaces with bottled water, boiled water, or water that has been disinfected with bleach

Caring for pets…

• Pets can get sick from some of the same germs as people or spread germs to people. Give pets bottled water or boiled water that has cooled.
• Boil tap water even if it is filtered (for example, by a home water filter or a pitcher that filters water).
• Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator.

Further Update: This boil advisory was lifted during the evening hours of January 30.