The City of Bloomington Utilities sent an advisory Saturday afternoon that Monroe County is under a precautionary boil advisory due to a sand spill at the operation plant.
The advisory was in effect until 9 a.m. Monday and has been lifted. There are still 207 homes in Gentry Estates under the advisory until noon Tuesday.
Friday evening, utility operators at the water treatment plant were preparing a new water filter, and the sand used in the filter spilled into the water tank. According to the city advisory, this made the water cloudy (turbidity).
The city says they did not detect any contaminants in the water but placed the city on boil advisory until they estimate the water will be clear again.
According to the city utilities website, turbidity is not harmful, but may increase the risk for disease-causing organisms to be in the water. This includes things like viruses, bacteria, or other organisms that may cause flu-like symptoms.
Those at increased risk to be affected by these organisms are infants, some elderly, and people who are immunocompromised.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management requires public water systems to send out a boil water advisory when turbidity is detected at 1 unit or above.
To ensure water is safe to drink, the city recommends bringing the water to a roiling boil and boiling the water for two minutes. Residents can also purchase bottled water or water from a different source.
If the water appears cloudy coming out of the sink, run the water on cold until it appears clear again.
This story has been updated.
