Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Environmental Services Division
 
For Immediate Release                                                                              
July 8, 2008
 
BOIL ADVISORY ISSUED FOR WATER IN FERTILE AND RYAN 
 
MEDIA CONTACT: Al Tompkins, DNR Mason City field office, at (641) 424-4073 (Fertile advisory) or Mike Wade, DNR Manchester field office at (563) 927-2640 (Ryan advisory.)
 
DES MOINES — The DNR is asking residents of Fertile in Worth County and Ryan in Delaware County to boil their drinking water following recent problems arising at their water supply facilities. Both cities are working with the DNR to repair the situations. 
 
In Fertile, a main break and failure of a high service pump drained the water tower and caused the distribution system to lose pressure. The city has repaired the service pump and restored pressure in all areas except the main break, which will be repaired Tuesday. The city also plans to go house to house to notify citizens of the advisory. 
 
The DNR was alerted that the city of Ryan had lost water pressure at their facility Monday afternoon after finishing maintenance on the water tower. An error when putting the tower back into service caused a water main to break. Monday night’s weather prevented the repair of the facility until Tuesday morning. The city will be sent a notice of violation for failure to report and failure to comply with bacterial monitoring requirements prior to putting a storage facility back into service.
 
Due to the potential for bacterial contamination in both cases, the DNR and the cities are recommending that residents boil the water before using it for drinking or cooking, or to use an alternative source of water. Residents should boil water used for drinking or cooking, brushing teeth, food preparation or any other purpose involving human consumption. City water may still be used for bathing. 
 
Boiling destroys bacteria and disease-causing organisms, which may be in the water. Water should be brought to a boil, boiled one minute and then allowed to cool before using. More information on disinfecting water is available on the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. 
 
Residents should continue to boil their water until the DNR or the city notifies them that water is meeting standards and is safe to drink. The DNR and city will lift the boil advisory after test results show the system is bacterially safe.
 
 
Writer: Cassy Lalan
 
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