Health Department Issues Boil Order for Water Customers in Ohio County
WHEELING, WV — A boil water notice has been issued by the Ohio County PSD, The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department and the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, Office of Environmental Health Services for parts of Ohio County.
A Boil Water Order has been issued by the Ohio County Public Service District beginning March 10, 2016. The Order is in response to a break and repair on a 8 inch water main in the area. When service is restored a 48 hour boil order will be in place. Areas affected include:
- Stone Church Road from Memory Lane to View Point
Water customers should not drink the water without boiling it first. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, bathing and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
The health department also recommends the following steps: Throw away beverages and ice cubes if made with tap water; Keep boiled water inthe refrigerator for drinking; Provide pets with boiled water after cooling; Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiling or using bottled water; most home water filters will not provide adequate protection from microorganisms; Use only boiled water to treat minor injuries.
Once the problem has been corrected a Boil Water Lift Notice will be posted and it is then no longer necessary to boil water before consuming. The health department advises:
- flush the water lines at each fixture by allowing the hot & cold water to run for 3-5 minutes
- clean faucets and aerators
- purge water using fixtures and ice machines (including ice cubes made with tap water that had not been boiled during the boil order)
- replace or clean filters on faucet filtration systems
For more information contact the Ohio County PSD at (304) 547-5133 or the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department at (304) 234-3682.