A flier was posted within residence halls on Ball State's campus in order to inform residents of the 24-hour boil notice issued on Nov. 14. Many worried about lead contamination, like in Flint, Michigan, but Muncie's water supply is now safe to consume. Provided Photo

A flier was posted within residence halls on Ball State's campus in order to inform residents of the boil notice issued on Nov. 14. The alert has been issued until 10:00 p.m. on Nov 15. Max Lewis // DN

Have questions about what to do when there is a boil water advisory?



Check out Indiana American Water's Frequently Asked Questions and Answers page.

Have questions about what to do when there is a boil water advisory?



Check out Indiana American Water's Frequently Asked Questions and Answers page.

UPDATE:

As of around 8 p.m., the boil water advisory for Muncie has been lifted. Feel free to drink city water safely now.

A water sample was taken from around the area, according to an Indiana American Water press release, and did not find any contamination present.

EARLIER:

The entire City of Muncie – including the Ball State University campus – has been placed under a water boil advisory due to valve malfunction at the Indiana American Water Company water plant that released bacteria into the water supply, according to an email from Indiana American Water spokesperson Joe Loughmiller.

Until test results show the water is safe to drink, consumers have been advised not to drink the water without boiling it first.

The results of regular monitoring by Indiana American Water, according to Loughmiller, showed the drinking water did not meet the EPA's health standards on Nov. 14, citing cloudiness in the water, also referred to as "turbidity."

The treatment issue leading to the turbidity violation occurred during routine maintenance after valves opened beyond their normal range, resulting in an increased turbidity level beyond the permitted limit for less than one hour, according to Loughmiller.

Turbidity has no health effects, however, it can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for bacterial growth that can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea and headaches.

"As our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we are doing to correct this situation," Loughmiller said in a press release. "The problem has already been corrected and Indiana American Water is in the process of collecting and analyzing samples to ensure the safety of your drinking water."

Although the Delaware County Emergency Management Agency initially connected the boil advisory to "a water main break on Burlington," Loughmiller confirmed that there was no water main break and said the company's water plant – which is located on Burlington Drive – was where the valve "opened too far."

The boil alert has been issued until 10:00 p.m. on Nov 15.

Any additional information regarding this boil advisory will be shared with residents through local media outlets, the company’s Facebook page and through the company’s CodeRed phone notification service.

According to the company, consumers should bring their tap water to a rolling boil for one minute and allow to cool before using for consumption purposes – such as drinking, making ice cubes, washing vegetables and fruit and for brushing teeth.

The following steps are also recommended:

• Throw away uncooked food or beverages or ice cubes if made with tap water during the day of the advisory;

• Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking;

• Rinse hand-washed dishes for a minute in diluted bleach (one tablespoon of household bleach per gallon of tap water) or clean dishes in a dishwasher using the hot wash cycle and dry cycle.

• Showering or bathing are safe, as long as water is not swallowed;

• Provide pets with boiled water after cooling;

• Do not use home filtering devices (i.e. Brita filters or other store-bought filters) in place of boiling or using bottled water; most home water filters will not provide adequate protection from microorganisms;

• Use only boiled water to treat minor injuries.

This story will be updated.



