by Kitsap Sun, originally posted on January 25, 2017

SOUTH KITSAP — About 1,000 customers in the South Kitsap area are being asked to boil their tap water after E. coli bacteria was found in a storage tank.

Customers in the Horizons West system should boil water or use bottled water to drink, cook food, make ice, brush teeth and wash dishes by hand. The warning, provided by the Washington Water Service Co., which manages the system, is until further notice. Customers should bring water to a rolling boil for a full minute, the company said in a news release.

A company storage tank tested positive for E. coli. It will be removed from service and cleaned. Chlorine is being added to three other tanks as a precaution.

Customers inside the plat of Horizons West, which is owned by Quistorff Water System, aren’t subject to the advisory.

Tap water still is safe for showering, bathing and other household tasks. Residents are advised to use commercial dishwashing detergent in dishwashers.

Anyone with questions about the advisory can call 877-408-4060.