Woodward boil order becomes official Tuesday

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WOODWARD, Iowa — The city of Woodward is officially under a boil notice, according to a message from the Woodward City Hall issued Tuesday afternoon.

“Boil order in effect for the entire city until further notice!” said an emergency alert issued about 4 p.m. “Do not drink the water out of the tap. You may shower and do your laundry. Please check local postings and media for updates!”

Woodward Mayor Todd Folkerts announced Monday night that a break in a water main forced the interruption of service. Folkerts said the water was soon restored, but some residents might still experience the outage while city crews vent the system.

Woodward water customers should boil water as a precaution. Bring all water used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth or preparing food to a boil, and then let it boil for one minute before cooling and using. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

Residents may also use bottled water during the temporary boil order.

Tap water can still be used for bathing and similar purposes, the city said.

General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

When Woodward’s water service is restored, there may be air in residents’ water piping, and the water may be discolored. It is recommended that residents run the first water from a faucet that does not have an aerator screen, such as a bathtub or hose bib. Open the faucet slowly to allow the air to escape.

Once the water is flowing, allow the faucet to run until it is clear. The water may be cloudy at first due to air in the water or particles that dislodged as the pipes filled with water. This should clear fairly quickly.

If water is cloudy throughout the house and it does not clear after allowing the water to run for several minutes, contact the Woodward Water Works at 515-438-2560.

This boil advisory is a precaution until bacterial sample results are available. Residents will be notified when the results are available and the advisory is lifted. The Woodward authorities are working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to resolve the situation.

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