by Kevin Fambrough, originally posted on October 20, 2016

WALKER – A water boil advisory for the City of Walker could be lifted on Friday, Oct. 21, pending test results from the state Department of Health & Hospitals (DHH), the city said.

A contractor cut through a water main near City Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 19, affecting the city’s water pressure, the city said in a news release.

City crews repaired the water main about 9 p.m. that night and water pressure was restored.

But a water boil advisory was immediately issued on social media because the water pressure dropped below a certain level.

“The boil advisory will remain in effect through Thursday, Oct. 20, pending results from DHH,” the news release said.

“The results should be in by Friday, Oct. 21, at which time the boil advisory should be lifted,” the release said.

The city will issue a notice when the boil order is lifted, the release said.

“Brown water will be a problem for a few days until the system is completely flushed,” according to the City of Walker announcement.

“It is a result of residual manganese built up in the waterlines that is re-cirulated due to the fluctuation in water pressure. While not harmful, it is very unpleasant to experience.”

According to DHH, a boil water advisory is issued by a water system advising customers to boil tap water before consuming it when an event has occurred allowing the possibility for the water distribution system to become contaminated.

An advisory does not mean that the water is contaminated, but rather that it could be contaminated because the water quality is unknown.

An advisory must be issued, according to DHH, if there is a loss of pressure in a part of or throughout the water distribution system.