Photo by Mr.TinDC.

Photo by Mr.TinDC.

Update, 7/15: As of 8:23 a.m. on Sunday, DC Water lifted its boil water advisory for all customers.

The agency recommends that anyone in the affected area run cold water taps for 10 minutes before using their water.

Update, 6 p.m., 7/14: All pools are now open with the exception of Turkey Thicket, and all spray parks are open besides Turkey Thicket and Riggs-LaSalle, per the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation.

Update, 10:55 a.m., 7/14: The boil water advisory remains in effect for some neighborhoods in Northeast D.C., including University Heights, Michigan Park, North Michigan Park, Queens Chapel, and portions of Brookland, according to DC Water.

The city advises that people in the affected region should continue to boil their water (and let it cool) before drinking, brushing teeth, making ice, preparing infant formula, or giving pets water.

People outside the affected areas don’t need to undertake any further action. DC Water is telling people in previously impacted areas to run cold water taps for 10 minutes before using their water again.

The agency says it has received “one positive test result” of total coliform, a bacteria. “We will continue flushing water from the system, and testing water samples to assess water safety,” DC Water says.

The advisory has impacted pools and spray parks beyond Northeast, too.

The spray parks closed on Saturday are 14th & Girard, 14th & Park, Columbia Heights, Friendship, Palisades, Petworth, Riggs-LaSalle, Langdon Park, Turkey Thicket, and Kennedy, according to the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation.

The public pools shuttered on Saturday because of the advisory are Parkview, Happy Hollow, Harry Thomas, Upshur, Theodore Hagans, Turkey Thicket, Banneker, Marie Reed, Jelleff, and Volta, per DPR.

Original: Shortly after 4:30 a.m. on Friday morning, an AlertDC message reached 100,000 residents, warning a vast group of Washingtonians in Northwest and Northeast to boil their water before using it for a slew of activities including drinking, cooking, and brushing one’s teeth.

DC Water says this boil water advisory is precautionary, and stems from an open valve at the Bryant Street Pumping Station on Thursday evening that resulted in a drop in or loss of water pressure for 34,000 customers (the word customer might mean more than one person—Howard University, for instance, is a customer).

The 66-minute service interruption created the potential for water contamination. Hence, DC Water’s boil water advisory.

DC Water is telling everyone in the affected areas (here’s a map where you can enter your address) to use cooled, boiled water or bottled water for:

  • Drinking

  • Brushing teeth

  • Preparing and cooking food

  • Making ice

  • Preparing infant formula

  • Giving water to pets

Here’s how to boil the water:

  • Run the tap until clear if water is discolored, prior to boiling.

  • Bring water to a rolling boil for 3 minutes.

  • Allow water to cool before using.

  • Store cooled water in a clean container with a cover.

Right now, this is all precautionary. DC Water is conducting a broad spectrum test using samples from businesses, homes, and hydrants in the affected areas. If it all comes back negative, DC Water hopes to lift the advisory by Saturday morning.

Considering that the open valve occurred on Thursday evening and the DC Alert didn’t come out until the following morning, some residents have already used water without boiling it first.

“It is not necessary to be overly alarmed by having used the water this morning prior to reviewing the boil water advisory if you are in the affected area,” D.C. Department of Health Director LaQuandra S. Nesbitt said at a DC Water press conference on Friday. “If you have ingested or used water, we suggest that you monitor yourself for any signs or symptoms,” like upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, and cramps. She recommended calling a healthcare provider before going to the emergency room, and cautioned that “having symptoms may not be related to using water.”

She said there was no need to discontinue breast feeding, even if one ingested the water.

The city is also responding by closing all of the splash parks and public pools in the affected areas (see below for a full list). While people can shower in the affected area, Nesbitt said that people’s behavior at splash parks can put them at risk.

The typical splash park attendees “tend to be a lot younger than many of us, they stand there and they sort of, drink the water,” she said.

Christopher Rodriguez, the director of D.C.’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, said the city has mobilized water stations, closed water fountains at rec centers in affected areas, and provided boil water instructions and bottled water to summer schools and summer camp sites.

DC Water is still trying to figure out why the open valve occurred in the first place, but stands behind its attempts to communicate the advisory to the public.

“We did everything we could,” said DC Water General Manager David Gadis.

D.C. Health has issued mandatory food orders to restaurants in areas impacted by the advisory.

Some businesses in affected areas are telling customers to bring their own water today.

Others are adjusting their schedules or temporarily closing to account for the advisory.

DC Water continues to lift the advisory in neighborhoods that it has cleared. Check the map to see if you’re affected.

According to the mayor’s office the affected pools are Wilson, Dunbar, Upshur, Banneker, Francis, Volta, Turkey Thicket, Langdon, Dunbar, Jelleff, Marie Reed, Happy Hollow, Harry Thomas, and Theodore Haggans.

The affected spray parks are 14th & Girard, 14th & Park, Columbia Heights, Harrison, Stead Park, Westminster, Friendship, Macomb, Palisades, Guy Mason, Petworth, Riggs-LaSalle, Takoma, Langdon Park, Turkey Thicket, and Kennedy.

This post has been updated with new information.

Filed Under: dc water, water advisory,