Precautionary Drinking Water Advisory for Limited Set of Customers in SE Quadrant

The City of Cedar Rapids is asking customers at the addresses listed below to consider boiling water used for personal consumption as a precautionary measure. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have infants under 6 months of age, USE BOTTLED WATER ONLY.

Affected Addresses are: 

1617 12^th Avenue SE
1625 12^th Avenue SE
1629 12^th Avenue SE
1601 13^th Avenue SE
1602 13^th Avenue SE
1606 13^th Avenue SE
1607 13^th Avenue SE
1610 13^th Avenue SE
1611 13^th Avenue SE
1615 13^th Avenue SE
1618 13^th Avenue SE
1621 13^th Avenue SE
1622 13^th Avenue SE
1626 13^th Avenue SE
1627 13^th Avenue SE
1629 13^th Avenue SE
1630 13^th Avenue SE
1635 13^th Avenue SE
1636 13^th Avenue SE

A water main break at 1617 12^th Avenue SE has caused a disruption to normal distribution operation, which has created a potential for bacteria contamination to occur. We are advising residents at only the listed addresses to follow these steps for added protection.

• Flush per recommendations below
• Bring water to be used for consumption to a boil
• Let it rapidly boil for at least 1 minute
• Allow to cool completely before consuming
• DO NOT USE BOILED WATER IF YOU ARE PREGNANT, NURSING OR PREPARING FORMULA FOR INFANTS – USE ONLY BOTTLED WATER

Crews have been dispatched to the affected area, and repairs are expected to be completed soon. Once repairs are complete, pressure will be restored, flushing of the affected area will occur, chlorine levels will be monitored, and bacteria samples will be collected for analysis. We anticipate completed results of bacteria analysis by Friday, May 6, at 12 p.m. noon, at which time this advisory will be either lifted or extended. Please check the website at CityofCR.com for up-to-date notifications, or call the Cedar Rapids Water Department at 319-286-5900.

The water department stresses that this Advisory is PRECAUTIONARY and is limited to the addresses listed above.

Affected Residents are Reminded to Flush Internal Plumbing

Any time water service is impacted by a brief outage, it is always a good idea to flush internal plumbing in a home or business. There may be air in the line, or a cloudiness in the water associated with increased turbidity. These symptoms are expected, and we are working to confirm the water is safe to drink.

Steps to clear the water:

• Run cold water after an outage through a faucet that does not have an aerator screen. Bathtubs and hose bibs are good candidates.
• Open faucets slowly to allow the air to escape. Air will make a spurting or hissing sound as it escapes through the faucet.
• Once the water is flowing, allow the faucet to run for up to five minutes to ensure the service line is thoroughly flushed. The first water may be cloudy due to air in the water or particles that dislodge as the pipes fill with water. The cloudiness should clear fairly quickly.
• It may take up to 48 hours for the turbidity to settle down once the system is restored to normal configuration. Continue to run cold water through a faucet daily until these symptoms go away.

If kitchen or bathroom faucets do not perform normally following a water outage, it may be necessary to remove the aerator screen. Typically, the aerator can simply be unscrewed from the faucet. Inspect the screen for small particles and rinse away any you find. Reinstall the aerator and test performance of the faucet again. If you experience difficulties, such as low pressure throughout the house following a water outage, call Utilities Water Division at 319-286-5900 for assistance during regular business hours.

WATER IN ALL OTHER AREAS IS SAFE TO CONSUME

Date distributed: May 4, 2022

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