The county wide Boil Water Advisory will remain in effect for users of public water until all systems are fully restored and tested.
The Greeneville Water Commission has restored pumping service and started treating water. Storage tanks are around 33% full, but must be higher before they can start sending water to the county utility districts. Those districts, like Greeneville, will have to slowly reintroduce the water into pipes that have been empty for several days.
The empty pipes, reintroduction of water, and repressurizing of lines can cause sediment to cloud the water. Water that hasn’t been moving could have led to bacteria to contaminate the system until it is flushed through with newly treated water. Once all the lines are filled, water samples will be taken at various points and tested to ensure that the new water is safe for consumption.
That process will take a few more days, and the advisory is likely to remain in effect through at least next week. The timing depends on how well the county systems are able to accept and begin water flow. With the closure of Jones Bridge until Friday morning and the continued closure of Bird’s Bridge, some of those inspections have been delayed.
Now that water is beginning to flow through faucets again, Boil Advisories have been issued until the lines are fully replenished and water circulating again. But many people have asked what you can and can’t do during a Boil Advisory. Here are the CDC’s guidelines.
Drinking and cooking
Use commercially bottled water or boiled water for drinking and to prepare and cook food.
If you feed your child formula, provide ready-to-use formula if possible.
Handwashing
In many cases, you can use tap water and soap to wash your hands during a boil water advisory.
Bathing and showering
Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.
Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
Brushing teeth
Brush your teeth using boiled water or commercially bottled water. Do not use tap water that you have not boiled first.
Washing dishes
If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils during a boil water advisory.
Sanitize all baby bottles.
Dishwashers are generally safe to use if they have a sanitizing cycle or reach a final rinse temperature of at least 150°F (66°C). Check the manual or contact the manufacturer to find out what temperature your dishwater reaches.
To wash dishes by hand:
- Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water.
- In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water.
- Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute.
- Let the dishes air dry completely before using them again.
Laundry
It is safe to wash clothes as usual.
Cleaning
Clean washable toys and surfaces with:
- Commercially bottled water,
- Boiled water, or
- Water that has been disinfected with bleach
Caring for pets
Give pets commercially bottled water or boiled water that has cooled. Pets can get sick from some of the same germs as people or spread germs to people.
