DEVELOPING STORY: Memphis Light Gas & Water has issued an advisory urging customers to boil their water. MLGW says the advisory was issued due to recent water main breaks and low water pressure.
The boil advisory impacts all MLGW customers — that’s 260,000 in all, including businesses as well as households representing multiple people.For more information, please contact MLGW at 901-320-3950. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean? What should you do?
DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for three (3) minutes, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
Water main breaks and water production issues are resulting in a loss of system pressure which can introduce disease-causing organisms into the water system. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. 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 with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice from their health care providers about drinking water.
What is being done?
MLGW is actively seeking and repairing line and main breaks. Once system pressure is restored, required regulatory testing will be conducted. Customers will be informed when the notice is lifted and no longer applies. Rest assured, MLGW is committed in delivering the highest quality water to our customers.
Due to recent water main breaks and freezing temperatures that have caused low water pressure in #MLGW‘s water system, Memphis Light, Gas and Water (PWS ID 0000450) has issued this advisory to notify water customers to boil their water. #MLGWNews #ServingYouIsWhatWeDo pic.twitter.com/Dh4aiFlalL
— MLGW (@MLGW) February 18, 2021
