The precautionary boil-water advisories issued two weeks ago for the Charleston Water Department and Cascilla Water Association remain in effect as of 9 a.m. Thursday, March 4, according to information from the Mississippi State Department of Health.
Both the Cascilla and Charleston associations imposed the boil-water alerts on themselves as a precaution after cold weather during the week of Feb. 15-19 caused malfunctions in the water systems' equipment and they lost pressure.
According to MSDH, when a distribution system loses pressure, contaminants can siphon back into the water. Public health officials consider any system that loses pressure contaminated until tests prove otherwise. Health officials strongly recommend that all water be boiled vigorously for 1 minute before it is consumed.
Charleston is also the source of water for the East Charleston Water Association, a co-op that serves customers who live outside the city limits, so that association is also under a boil-water alert.
MSDH will notify operators of the Cascilla and Charleston water systems when water samples sent for analysis show that the water is safe to drink. At that point, the boil-water alert will be lifted.
