Boil-water advisory issued Sunday in city of Tecumseh after multiple water main breaks

TECUMSEH — A boil-water advisory has been issued for the city of Tecumseh due to multiple water main breaks that occurred Sunday.

The advisory is due to a loss of pressure in the water supply which may have allowed bacterial contamination in the water system, an email sent Sunday to city water customers and a post on the city’s Facebook page said.

“Bacteria are generally not harmful and are common throughout our environment,” the email said. “Corrective measures are currently being undertaken to correct the situation.”

The boil advisory was issued out of caution and is recommended by the state of Michigan due to the low water pressure issue that began on Jan. 12. The state recommended a 48-hour boil-water advisory during required state testing to ensure safe drinking water qualities, the city said.

This boil notice shall remain in effect until results from the water sampling verify it is safe to drink. Customers will be notified when the boil advisory has been lifted.

What should residents do?

Do 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, the city’s email said. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and preparing food. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Continue using boiled or bottled water until further notice. The estimated end of the advisory is noon Tuesday, Jan. 14.

What happened? What is being done?

Some residents may have noticed a drop in water pressure around 8 a.m. Sunday. The city reported there were multiple water main breaks on Sunday, which caused a low-pressure system warning.

“Whenever a water system loses pressure for any significant length of time, precautionary measures are recommended,” the email said.

Tecumseh city employees are pictured Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, working along North Evans Street near Red Mill Drive.

The city is working to get pressure restored, the email said, and city staff will be taking other remedial actions such as flushing and collecting bacteriological samples from around the system. The samples will be collected to determine that the water quality meets state drinking water standards.

“We will inform you when tests show no bacteria and you no longer need to boil your water,” the email said. “We anticipate resolving the problem within 48 hours.”

For more information, contact the Tecumseh Utilities Department by calling 517-423-0402 or by email at WWTPsuperintendent@tecumsehmi.gov.

— Contact reporter David Panian at dpanian@lenconnect.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @lenaweepanian.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Water main breaks lead to boil-water advisory in Tecumseh

Image Credits and Reference: https://www.yahoo.com/news/boil-water-advisory-issued-sunday-203953635.html