UPDATE: Boil order issued for City of Dowagiac water customers, dead squirrel found at treatment plant

APRIL 9 UPDATE: The City of Dowagiac has announced the first lab results, taken immediately after the event on the evening of April 7, have returned NEGATIVE for bacterial contamination.

As of April 9:

• The boil water advisory remains in effect
• There must be two consecutive negative results in order to lift a boil advisory
• The second sample, collected Tuesday night, is being processed
• As soon as those test results are reviewed by the state, the city will provide an update

APRIL 8 UPDATE: The City of Dowagiac announced Tuesday morning that a small dead squirrel was found on the premises of the Water Treatment Plant on Monday.

Officials say they immediately reached out to the state drinking water department, took corrective action.

Water samples are currently being tested at an independent lab to ensure no bacterial contamination has occurred, officials said.

City officials say all of this is being done out of an abundance of caution, and they will continue to share updates as they're available.

Officials add this advisory is unrelated to previous lead action alerts.

ORIGINAL: DOWAGIAC, Mich. -- Officials have announced a boil water advisory is in effect for all City of Dowagiac water customers.

They state that there was an anomaly at the water treatment plant there, and they issued the boil water order out of an abundance of caution.

Officials say bacteria contamination may have occurred in the water system.

While bacteria is generally not harmful and is common, they are taking corrective measures.

The public is asked to boil water for drinking and cooking prior to consumption until the order is lifted.