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DOWAGIAC — A boil water advisory for Dowagiac residents has been lifted, according to a news release.

Multiple rounds of testing by an independent lab has confirmed that no bacterial contamination exists. It is no longer necessary to boil water used for drinking and cooking prior to consumption. 

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. The city immediately reached out to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the agency that oversees city drinking water standards. 

 The State requires that two tests, completed 24 hours apart, come back negative for bacterial contamination before lifting a boil water advisory. The tests typically take at least 24 hours to process.

 Samples were delivered to an independent laboratory for testing. City officials were in constant communication with Michigan EGLE about the testing and communication around the boil water advisory. The advisory was approved by Michigan EGLE and issued at 6:06 p.m. on Monday, April 7, and lifted at 9:50 p.m. Wednesday, April 9.

Answers to to frequently asked questions can be found on the city website. Residents can also sign up for free Dowagiac Alerts and get phone calls, texts, and/or emails on time-sensitive subjects.