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DOWAGIAC — Dowagiac residents are still being impacted by the boil advisory issued Monday after an anomaly found at its water treatment facility revealed bacterial contamination may have occurred in the water system.

A small dead squirrel was found on the premises of the Water Treatment Plant. City officials stated that whenever these situations occur, precautionary measures are taken to ensure safe drinking water. 

Laboratory analysis of water samples from the plant is still underway, with the first results – taken immediately after the event Monday evening – having returned negative for bacterial contamination. 

The boil water advisory will remain in effect until results from the sampling verify the water is safe to drink. Customers will be advised when the boil water advisory has been lifted.There must be two consecutive negative results in order to lift a boil advisory. The second sample, collected Tuesday night, is being processed.

Dowagiac Union Schools is implementing precautionary measures through Thursday. The district encourages parents and guardians to send their children to school tomorrow with water bottles or a container filled with water. Water bottles will also be available at school for students, if parents are unable to send one in. Kincheloe and Sister Lakes Elementary Schools are not affected by the advisory.

For more information, please contact the City of Dowagiac at (269) 782-2195. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1(800) 426-4791.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends these actions when dean dealing with a boil water advisory:

• Use bottled or boiled water for drinking, and to prepare and cook food.
• If bottled water is not available, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes). After boiling, allow the water to cool before use.
• 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 you formula feed your child, provide ready-to-use formula, 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 your 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.

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 1 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.
• If bottled water is not available, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes). After boiling, allow the water to cool before use.
• 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.

Caring for your garden and houseplants

• You can use tap water for household plants and gardens.