Originally posted on July 29, 2016

According to the City of O’Neill Facebook page, the city has issued a boil water notice for all residents of O’Neill that are on the city water line.

This notice comes after testing of water samples came back positive for coliform, and one sample also tested positive for E. coli.

David Jundt with the Nebraska Division of Public Health was in O’Neill informed the city on Thursday that of four routine samples that were tested, one showed that it was coliform positive. They then repeated the test and three tested positive for coliform and one also tested positive for E. coli.

Jundt says the Nebraska Department of Public Health and the city of O’Neill are now investigating why this happened.

The process to test the next water samples will take some time. It may be a week before the next results are in. This is because special sample bottles must be shipped to O’Neill, then the samples will be overnighted to the lab. Once at the lab there is a 24-hour incubation time for coliform and an additional 12 to 15 hours after that for E. coli.

Residents wishing to use city water should bring all water to a boil before use. Let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using.

The boil advisory reads: “Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. If you are bathing or taking a shower that is OK, just do not ingest any water.”

The city will also be chlorinating the water possibly late Thursday night, July 28, or first thing on Friday morning, July 29.

Questions regarding this issue should be directed to O’Neill Water Commissioner Curtis Kizzire at 402-340-7827.

The Official Notice from the City is below.

BOIL WATER NOTICE

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER

In accordance with the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. the City of O’Neill, NE3108904, public water supply system in HOLT County, is hereby making public notice of the violation of drinking water microbiological standards. The violation consists of the detection of E.coli bacteria in its distribution system during the month of July 2016.