UPDATE: Washington boil order lifted

WASHINGTON — A boil order issued for both sides of West Madison Street between H Avenue to Highway 1 on Tuesday has been lifted, according to an email from city staff on Thursday morning, April 25.

A news release from the city of Washington at 4:33 p.m. on Tuesday directed consumers “to boil all water for at least five minutes before drinking, making ice cubes, washing foods, brushing teeth or any other activity involving the consumption of water.”

Municipal officials said crews had to deal with two water main breaks in the area, where a project to upgrade the infrastructure has been ongoing for months. City Finance Director Kelsey Brown said the order was lifted after getting results from a 24-hour lab test of the water.

There had been some concern initially about another, undetected break in the water main.

“There’s at least two breaks, they have one of them fixed, they’re working on the second one,” City Administrator Deanna McCusker said Tuesday night. “Once that is fixed, they will turn the water back on. There is possibly a third break, so we are issuing a boil advisory.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com