The advisory will remain in effect for at least 36 hours, the city said.
ST CHARLES, Mo. — All 72,000 residents in St. Charles are under a boil water advisory due to a “depressurization event,” city officials said.
A private contractor reportedly struck and damaged a critical water interconnection pipeline that is co-owned by St. Charles and St. Peters, officials said in a press release on Thursday. There is no boil water advisory in St. Peters.
The incident caused a significant loss of pressure in the pipeline, posing a risk of drinking water contamination in St. Charles. No contamination has been confirmed.
All water that is used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, or preparing food should be boiled for at least three minutes and allowed to cool before use to ensure health safety. Water for other uses, like showering, bathing, or washing clothes, does not need to be boiled.
“City of St. Charles and City of St. Peters crews, along with an emergency contractor, have been mobilized to the site to begin immediate repairs on the damaged pipeline,” officials said. “In addition to boiling water, we ask all residents to conserve water until this advisory has been lifted. Please help your neighbors by refraining from non-essential water usage, such as irrigation, to ensure there is an adequate water supply for everyone while we work to restore our critical pipeline connection.”
City crews have collected water samples for lab analysis, and the boil water advisory will remain until tests confirm the supply is safe to drink. Results are expected within the next 36 to 48 hours.
This is a developing situation. This article will be updated as new information is released.