MLGW: All customers should boil water before use
MLGW is recommending all customers boil water before consuming it, an expansion of its precautionary advisory that originally applied to only some customers.
The expanded advisory comes as a result of “a significant loss of (water) pressure to Memphis and Shelby County,” MLGW said in a statement issued at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday. The full statement is included below.
MLGW recommends water is boiled for at least three minutes before it is consumed, including being used for cooking or making ice. An early advisory only applied to customers in some parts of Shelby County.
Due to freezing weather and power outages, MLGW has experienced multiple line breaks which has resulted in a significant loss of pressure to Memphis and Shelby County in the drinking water system. (The Daily Memphian file)
The water boil recommendation is a result of low water pressure caused by “a growing number of water main breaks,” MLGW said. As of 9:15 p.m. Saturday, MLGW knew of five water main breaks.
MLGW does not have an estimated time for the low water pressure to be fixed. To attempt to deal with the problem, MLGW has crews working to repair water main breaks.
MLGW is also attempting to detect other breaks and it is increasing output at pumping stations. MLGW is asking owners of unoccupied properties to check their properties for leaks.
The water main breaks and water boil recommendation follow extreme cold weather that began Thursday night. The weather also led TVA, which provides electricity to MLGW, to implement rolling blackouts throughout its service area, including Memphis. A return of forced blackouts was not included in the most recent update from MLGW.
The likelihood of continued forced blackouts is “low,” according to MLGW after a total of 226,000 customers have so far been without electricity as a result of TVA’s rolling blackouts.
Fewer than 1,000 MLGW customers remained without power as of 7 p.m. on Saturday.
While MLGW at that time said the rolling blackouts have ended, rolling blackouts have started and stopped — sometimes on short notice — as TVA has dealt with problems in its network of power-generation facilities and transmission lines.
MLGW said 226,000 of its customers lost power as a result of the TVA-mandated rolling blackouts. At the peak of the outages, a total of 75,000 customers were simultaneously without power.
As a result of the extreme weather on Thursday — versus the rolling blackouts — a total of 35,000 customers were impacted.
The full text of MLGW’s 8:15 p.m. Saturday statement follows:
Due to freezing weather and power outages, Memphis Light, Gas and Water has experienced multiple line breaks which has resulted in a significant loss of pressure to Memphis and Shelby County in the drinking water system. As a precautionary measure we are asking MLGW water customers to boil water before using for consumption. We are also asking customers to curtail water usage and to repair any ruptured lines in their homes or businesses. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience while we work to resolve this problem.
Customers who are affected by this Precautionary Boil Water Advisory
All customers receiving water from MLGW.
What does this mean? What should I 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. Tap water is safe for bathing and showering but try to avoid getting it in your mouth. For more information, see: https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/drinking/drinking-water-advisories/boil-water-advisory.html.
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. 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
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.
Please share this information with other MLGW water customers, especially those who may not have received this precautionary advisory directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this advisory in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
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