As of Tuesday afternoon, a precautionary boil-water advisory remained in effect for users of the Tutwiler public water supply.
Daniel Hawthorne, a communications officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), said late Tuesday that the department's Bureau of Public Water Supply has received and is in the process of analyzing water samples sent Monday from Tutwiler. Those results should be known by Wednesday, he explained.
A second batch of Tutwiler water samples, taken Tuesday, is expected to arrive at the MSDH office on Thursday, Hawthorne added.
He said he was uncertain when the boil-water alert might be lifted.
The precautionary alert was self-imposed by Tutwiler officials last Thursday due to a loss of water pressure caused by an electrical malfunction.
Tutwiler Mayor Nichole Harris said a transformer on a pump blew after a leaking water tower was turned off, causing low pressure in one area of Tutwiler.
MSDH has not released any findings to suggest a problem with Tutwiler's water supply, but when a distribution system loses pressure, contaminants can siphon back into the water. Therefore, 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 one minute before it is consumed.
