BRIGHTON, Mich. – A boil water advisory was issued for the city of Brighton Thursday due to a water main break in the area.
City officials are telling Brighton residents and workers to boil water before consuming it or using it to cook or clean due to potential bacterial contamination. A water main break that occurred Thursday, April 6, caused a loss in pressure in the water system, which can lead to bacterial contamination.
Recommended Videos
As a precaution, the city has issued a boil water advisory, as boiling water kills off any bacteria. Residents and workers in Brighton should either use bottled water, or boil any water being used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and preparing food.
The boil water advisory is in effect until further notice, though officials said Thursday that they expect the issue to be resolved within 48-72 hours. The city will notify the people when testing shows the water is safe to drink without boiling.
The exact location of the water main break was not identified.
Click here to learn more about what to do during a boil water advisory from the CDC.
What to do when advisory ends
When a boil water advisory is lifted, customers are encouraged to take certain steps to flush out their pipes and clear their hot water tanks. Here are steps water customers should take, as written by the Great Lakes Water Authority:
Flush
- Unscrew and remove the faucet aerator (screen).
- Turn on each cold water faucet/tap slowly
- Turn on each cold water faucet/tap slowly.
- Clean and reinstall aerator.
- Flush automatic ice makers. Ice cubes made during the Boil Water Advisory should be emptied and the ice maker run through a 24-hour cycle. Make three batches of ice and discard them. The water line should be clear, and ice should be safe to consume with the fourth batch.
Clear hot water tanks/heaters
- Run hot water only at all faucets and flush until water runs cool or typically a minimum of
- 15 minutes for a typical household 40-gallon hot water tank.
- 30 minutes for a hot water tank greater than 40 gallons.
Replace filters
- Water filters, such as ones used in refrigerators, faucets, pitchers and under the sink, are not designed to remove the specific bacteria potentially present during a Boil Water Advisory. If you ran water through your filter during the Boil Water Advisory, the filter should be replaced.
- Remove and discard water filters.
- Replace with a new filter following flushing.