Boil Water Notice Issued Effective Immediately For O'Neill

The City of O’Neill has issued a BOIL WATER NOTICE for all residents of O’Neill that are on the city water line.

This notice comes after test results came back that showed a water sample positive for coliform and also tested positive for e-coli according to the Nebraska Division of Public Health. The City is investigating why this happened.

The process to test the next water samples does take some time and as of Wednesday afternoon it may be next Wednesday before we get the results in. The reason it requires this long is that special sample bottles must be shipped to O’Neill, then the samples are overnighted to the lab as they must get there within 30 hours. Once at the lab, there is a 24 hour incubation time for coliform and an additional 12 to 15 hours after that for e-coli.

At this time for residents of O’Neill on the city water line, if you are wishing to use city water, you must bring all water to a boil, let it boil for 1 minute, and cool before using. Or use bottles water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacterian and other organisms in the water. If you are bathing or taking a shower that is okay, just do not ingest any water. The City of O’Neill also wants to inform residents that they will be chlorinating the water.

If you need to call the city regarding this, the only number that should be called is O’Neill Water Commissioner Curtis Kizzire at 402-340-7827.

As soon as the City of O’Neill receives any test results or any news on the water system they will notify the public via radio and social media.

Please share this information with other people you know in O’Neill that are on the city water system so we get the word out quickly.

The official notice from the city is below.

BOIL WATER NOTICE

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER

In accordance with the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, The City of O’Neill, NE3108904, public water supply system in HOLT County, is hereby making public notice of the violation of drinking water microbiological standards. The violation consists of the detection of E.coli bacteria in its distribution system on September 19, 2016.

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