Updated at 9:55 p.m.

Officials warned residents in Salem, Turner and the surrounding areas to temporarily avoid drinking tap water after detecting low levels of toxins in the water supply.

Algae blooms caused cyanotoxins found last week in the Detroit Reservoir, which supplies water to the cities of Salem and Turner, as well as the Suburban East Salem Water District and Orchard Heights Water Association. The advisory should especially be heeded by young children, pets and anyone with poor health or weak immune systems, as well as anyone pregnant or nursing, according to the city of Salem.

City officials said the water is harmless to shower in, wash your hands or dishes as well as to clean or do laundry. Drinking the water could cause symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea. It can also lead to kidney and liver damage.

City and state health officials are monitoring the water. It is not immediately clear when the advisory will be lifted. Officials recommend bottled water as an alternative for drinking and cooking.

So, this is a Safeway near the Capitol in Salem.



The stocker literally laughed when I asked if they had any bottled water.



Yow. pic.twitter.com/W3eqaVSUTd — Tom James (@tomjames206) May 30, 2018

Residents in Marion County as well as other areas including Clackamas, Benton, Deschutes and Yamhill counties received text alerts around 8:30 p.m. from the Oregon Office of Emergency Management declaring a civil emergency in the area until 11:28 p.m and to prepare for action. The alert has prompted cities as well as police agencies in those areas to declare there is no civil emergency and urge residents not to call 911.

Cory Grogan, an emergency management office spokesman, said the alert was sent on behalf of the city of Salem regarding the water situation. He said he didn't know why the alert said it was a civil emergency or why it went out to people outside the Marion County area.

A second alert was later sent by the emergency management office declaring a water emergency for the Salem area and directing people to the city of Salem's website for more information.

When the second alert went out around 9 p.m., the city's website was down. It was still down a half hour later.

Around 9:40 p.m., the emergency management office sent a statement attributing the widespread alert to a "technology issue," that it was still trying to determine the cause of. The "civil emergency" term used in the first alert was part of phrasing in a default notice.

"OEM understands that the default message caused concern among residents and is working to learn the issues to be corrected," the statement said.

THERE IS NO CIVIL EMERGENCY. The message was intended to notify those affected by the water issue in Salem. PLEASE DO NOT CALL 911. — Marion Co. Sheriff (@MCSOInTheKnow) May 30, 2018

If you received this alert Woodburn area residents, please disregard. We’ve learned from State OEM it was sent in error and was intended for the Salem area about water issues. @CityofWoodburn @WoodburnFireDst @WoodburnPolice @MCSOInTheKnow @Metcom_911 @MarionCountyEM pic.twitter.com/9ulkEJMTze — Chief Jim Ferraris (@chiefferraris) May 30, 2018

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com

503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey