Alert to city of Muskegon Heights: Boil Your Water Before Using

Boil Your Water Before Using
City of Muskegon Heights water system lost pressure, contamination may have occurred
Muskegon Heights, MI – A drop in pressure in the Muskegon Heights water supply has occurred due to a water main break on November 16, 2012. Bacterial contamination may have occurred in the water system. Residents and businesses, including food establishments, in the City of Muskegon Heights area may be affected.
Bacteria are common throughout our environment and are not generally harmful. However, whenever a water system loses pressure for any significant length of time, precautionary measures are recommended.
DO NOT DRINK OR SERVE 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. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, coffee, pop or other beverages, and preparing food until further notice.
Food establishment operators should follow the instructions in the “Emergency Action Plans for Retail Food Establishments” guide. This document is available on the Michigan Department of Agriculture Web site at www.michigan.gov/michiganprepares. Instructions are available in English, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese.
Muskegon County Public Health food safety inspectors are monitoring efforts of impacted food establishments to ensure the safety of food sold in the area. The City of Muskegon Heights is working to restore pressure. Water staff will take remedial actions such as flushing and collecting bacteriological samples from the system to determine when the water meets the state drinking water standards. The problem has been corrected and water service is being restored at the time.
This boil water notice remains in effect until results from the sampling verify the water is safe to drink. Another notice will be issued when the boil water advisory has been lifted.
Please share this notice with other people who drink this water by distributing this notice or posting in a public place.
General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Hotline at
(800) 426-4791.