Officials in north Kansas City issued a boil water order for residents Thursday night, requiring them to boil their tap water before drinking it, due to a failure at the city’s reservoir.
One of the largest water mains that feeds into the reservoir burst Thursday night, according to Deputy City Manager Kim Nakahodo, causing a loss of water pressure in the distribution system that brings water to homes in north Kansas City.
The water main broke in Macken Park, flooding the lawn and causing water pressure to plummet to nearby homes, city officials reported on social media.
While the water line is being repaired, low water pressure could cause untreated water to flow back into the system, Nakahodo said. This means water coming out of North Kansas City’s taps could be contaminated or contain disease-causing bacteria.
“We have not determined at this time what caused the water main to break,” Nakahodo told The Star on Thursday night. “We have a lot of city personnel here to make sure we can restore our water service as quickly as possible.”
While the city’s water department works to repair the break, residents of north Kansas City are advised to boil all water for at least three minutes before drinking it, Nakahodo said.
Residents should use boiled or bottled water for all cooking, drinking, and cleaning activities, including drinking, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and making ice. The city is also asking residents to throw away any tap water they currently have stored, either as ice cubes or in a pitcher or glass.
Untreated water can contain bacteria and parasites, and drinking it can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea and headaches. This contaminated water can be especially dangerous for children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, Nakahodo said.
According to Nakahodo, the city plans to issue a second warning once the cooking ban ends.
