Virginia Department of Health explains boil water advisories - WHSV

Virginia Department of Health explains boil water advisories

While water has been restored for many Craigsville residents, the town is still under a boil water advisory.

CRAIGSVILLE, Va. (WHSV) - While water has been restored for many Craigsville residents, the town is still under a boil water advisory.

The advisory was issued by the Town of Craigsville under the guidance of the Virginia Department of Health on Wednesday, March 6. According to Virginia Department of Health, you should water to a full rolling boil for one minute if you are using it for food service or to drink. After you boil it, you should let it cool.

You can use regular tap water to wash your hands, flush your toilet or take a shower.

“The kinds of events that can create a boil water advisory is if we get sampling results that show that there is an increased risk of contamination or if there is a line break or a disruption in service where you have low or reduced water pressure,” said Dwayne Roadcap, Director of the Office of Drinking Water.

Roadcap said in Craigsville, the boil water advisory came as a result of a water line break that reduced the water pressure or caused it go to zero.

“When you lose water pressure there is an increased risk of contamination when the system is re-pressurized. That is why we have the boil water advisory in place until we can receive two follow-up sampling results to make sure the bacteriological contamination is not present in the drinking water,” said Roadcap.

The main health concern that comes with contaminated water is gastrointestinal illness.

“You can have gastroenteritis, acute gastroenteritis, gastrointestinal illness that comes from bacterial or viral input when you consume water that is contaminated,” said Roadcap.

Roadcap recommended being careful bathing children, because they may not understand to not let the water into their month.

The Virginia Department of Health has a frequently asked questions page on their website regarding boil water.

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