RPU issues boil advisory for Willow Heights neighborhood
ROCHESTER — A 25-minute power outage prompted Rochester Public Utilities to issue a boil advisory in the Willow Heights area of southwest Rochester Friday morning, Sept. 12, 2025.
The outage caused by a falling tree cut power to a booster pump system that increases water pressure in the service lines to the neighborhood.
The boil water advisory was issued as a precautionary measure in case a drop in pressure allowed backflow to enter drinking water service lines.
“It is out of an abundance of caution,” said Raquel Hellman, communications coordinator for RPU.
The order affects about 1,200 households, Hellman said.
Water from those lines is being tested and results will likely be available within 24 hours, Hellman added.
RPU advises people in the area to bring to a boil all water used for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth or making ice. People are advised to keep the water boiling a full minute or longer.
Now that the system has restored pressure, RPU recommends customers flush their building plumbing systems by running their water and to do so again after the advisory has been lifted.
John Molseed joined the Post Bulletin in 2018. He covers arts, culture, entertainment, nature and other fun stories he’s surprised he gets paid to cover. When he’s not writing articles about Southeast Minnesota artists and musicians, he’s either picking banjo, brewing beer, biking or looking for other hobbies that begin with the letter “b.” Readers can reach John at 507-285-7713 or jmolseed@postbulletin.com.