UPDATE: Boil water advisory lifted in Dowagiac, no bacterial contamination found
ABC 57
UPDATE FOUR: The boil water advisory for Dowagiac has officially been lifted as of 4:40 p.m., according to city officials.
Officials say no bacterial contamination was found after two consecutive tests taken 24 hours apart.
If your water is discolored or your pressure is low following the water main break, it's recommended you run a cold tap for a few minutes and clean your faucet aerators, the small screens on the tip of the faucet.
This will clear sediment stirred up from the water coming back on.
You can find more information on that and flushing your home system on the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) website.
UPDATE THREE: As of 8:20 p.m. pickup for bottled water is now available.
The distribution site is the Department of Public Works headquarters, located at 302 Wolf Street.
Pickups will be available throughout the overnight hours and customers will need to present an ID, utility bill, or other piece of mail that matches the address on the utility account.
The city of Dowagiac expects the fix to be done no later than 9 a.m. on Oct. 27.
UPDATE TWO: Dowagiac officials noted as of 2:40 p.m., Monday, that crews have isolated the water main break and are working to diagnose and fix the issue.
Officials say with the break isolated they can now open up the Riverside standpipe to deliver water to the system.
The boil water advisory remains in effect at this time.
The city asks that residents limit water usage as much as possible until the water main has been repaired due to the limited water supply in the standpipe.
City officials are close to confirming a large delivery of bottled water for those without water service and plan on sharing a pickup location as soon as possible.
UPDATE: City officials say the emergency water main repairs may cause water outages for residents.
Officials noted they're currently working on getting a shipment of bottled water to be available for impacted customers.
Due to a high volume of calls, phone calls to the city may not be connecting, officials said.
The city is aware of the pressure and outage issues and is working to resolve them quickly.
ORIGINAL STORY: DOWAGIAC, Mich. -- All of Dowagiac is currently under a boil water advisory following the confirmation of a water main break near Chestnut Street and Pennsylvania Avenue Monday morning.
The order is in effect until further notice.
City officials say loss of water pressure during a main break can allow bacteria to enter the water system. Officials say although bacteria are usually harmless and common throughout our environment, they are taking the potential risks seriously.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the agency that oversees the state's drinking water standards, has been notified, and city officials are following its guidance.
Customers should boil water used for drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth for at least one minute prior to consumption, until further notice.
You can stay up to date on the order via the city website.
