TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water
advisory the City of Wichita, including the City of Andover. The advisory was issued by the City of
Wichita due to an increase in turbidity. High turbidity can lead to a loss of chlorine residual levels and
may result in microbial contamination.
Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system
failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water
advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Wichita indicate no evidence of bacteriological
contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by
KDHE officials to be resolved.
The boil water advisory is still in effect for the following public water supply systems that purchase water
from the City of Wichita:
City of Rose Hill, City of Valley Center, El Paso Water Co. (City of Derby),
Sedgwick Co RWD 2, Sedgwick Co RWD 3, City of Kechi.
Customers should continue to observe the following precautions until further notice:
- Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
- Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
- If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
Protect and Improve the Health and Environment of all Kansans
- Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap
water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
- Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary
while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult
their physicians.
For consumer questions, please contact your water system or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer
information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage.
Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory
on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at
kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767.
