BENTON TOWNSHIP — Benton Township officials issued a precautionary drinking water warning Wednesday for its water customers south of the Paw Paw River and to all Sodus Township water customers.
As part of the water warning, residents are recommended to boil their water for 1 minute prior to consumption.
The precautionary actions are being taken due to a loss of pressure in the water distribution system.
The loss of pressure was caused by the malfunction of two pressure-sustaining valves on Wednesday.
The township has a capital improvement project underway on a 4 million-gallon standpipe along Euclid Avenue, which required public works officials to temporarily change the flow of water in the distribution system.
Superintendent Kelli Smith said the pressure-sustaining valves malfunctioned as a result of the change.
However, Smith said the issue has been corrected.
“Anytime a water system losses pressure for any significant length of time, precautionary measures are recommended,” Smith said in a news release.
The township is in the process of collecting bacteriological samples to ensure the pressure loss did not allow bacteria into the system.
The results should be available today, as officials intend to lift the boil water advisory when the samples show no bacteria.