Water Boil Advisory

May 10, 2025

Regional Water is recommending boiling the water before using it for drinking and to use an alternative source if possible for its Avoca Treatment Plant customers. {All customers except those in and around Underwood, McClelland, & Weston}.

Regional Water had a problem with the distribution system due to excessive demand and the system lost pressure on May 10, 2025. Due to the potential for bacterial contamination, it is recommended that the water be boiled before being used for drinking or cooking or that an alternative source be used. The pressure loss is affecting over half of their system, prompting the system-wide boil advisory.

IT IS RECOMMENDED NOT TO DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. The water may be used for bathing and other similar purposes. If the water is colored, use an alternative source such as bottled water.

For more information, please contact the Regional Water Office at 712-343-2413. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1(800) 426-4791.

When water service is restored, there may be air in your water piping and the water may be discolored. It is recommended to run the first water from a faucet that does not have an aerator screen, such as a bathtub or hose bib. Open the faucet slowly to allow the air to escape. Once the water is flowing, allow the faucet to run until it is clear. The water may be cloudy at first due to air in the water or particles that dislodged as the pipes filled with water. This should be clear fairly quickly. If water is cloudy or colored throughout the house and it does not clear after allowing the water to run for several minutes, use an alternative source such as bottled water and contact Regional Water at the number listed above.

The system is being repressurized, and bacteria samples will be collected. This advisory is a precaution until bacterial sample results are available. You will be notified when the results are available and the advisory is lifted.

The system is working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to resolve the situation.
This notice is being sent to you by Regional Water.
PWSID#: IA 8300184
Date distributed: 5-10-2025

Water Boil Advisory

May 10, 2025

Regional Water is recommending boiling the water before using it for drinking and to use an alternative source if possible for its Avoca Treatment Plant customers. {All customers except those in and around Underwood, McClelland, & Weston}.

Regional Water had a problem with the distribution system due to excessive demand and the system lost pressure on May 10, 2025. Due to the potential for bacterial contamination, it is recommended that the water be boiled before being used for drinking or cooking or that an alternative source be used. The pressure loss is affecting over half of their system, prompting the system-wide boil advisory.

IT IS RECOMMENDED NOT TO DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. The water may be used for bathing and other similar purposes. If the water is colored, use an alternative source such as bottled water.

For more information, please contact the Regional Water Office at 712-343-2413. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1(800) 426-4791.

When water service is restored, there may be air in your water piping and the water may be discolored. It is recommended to run the first water from a faucet that does not have an aerator screen, such as a bathtub or hose bib. Open the faucet slowly to allow the air to escape. Once the water is flowing, allow the faucet to run until it is clear. The water may be cloudy at first due to air in the water or particles that dislodged as the pipes filled with water. This should be clear fairly quickly. If water is cloudy or colored throughout the house and it does not clear after allowing the water to run for several minutes, use an alternative source such as bottled water and contact Regional Water at the number listed above.

The system is being repressurized, and bacteria samples will be collected. This advisory is a precaution until bacterial sample results are available. You will be notified when the results are available and the advisory is lifted.

The system is working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to resolve the situation.
This notice is being sent to you by Regional Water.
PWSID#: IA 8300184
Date distributed: 5-10-2025

Low Water Tower Levels

April 18, 2025

Low Water Tower Levels

Drinking Water Advisory

Level Yellow Press Release

      Upon issuing the Drinking Water Advisory Level Yellow reminder last week, usage continues to rise. All water towers fed by Regional Water’s Avoca Treatment Plant (ATP), are close to losing pressure and being empty. If the towers lose pressure, a Boil Advisory will immediately have to be put in place. Regional Water is pumping the maximum amount of water they can, and staff are doing everything they can to try to maintain pressure in all water towers. However, it is up to the customers at this point to prioritize their water usage and conserve and use alternative water sources as much as possible to not only avoid a system wide boil advisory but also possible intermittent times of not having water at all to flush toilets, shower, cook, etc.

      Regional Water’s Board of Directors would like to remind the member customers and communities on their ATP System that we are still in Alert Level Yellow – Mandatory Nonessential Water Restrictions. Reminder that this does not include in town or rural customers of Underwood, McClelland, or Weston as they are on a completely separate water system.

       Agricultural, commercial, industrial, municipal, and residential users are asked to observe the following reduction measures:

1. Large volume water users, including livestock confinement facilities and spraying operations should look at alternative water sources, to include their own private wells, Harlan Municipal Utilities and Council Bluffs Water Works retail water points, as well as any other non-potable sources.
2. No watering of any kind at any time.
3. Encourage the use of existing private wells where possible.
4. Commercial water users, including industries, motels, hotels, and eating establishments should conduct a water usage audit to reduce water use accordingly.
5. All water users should examine their plumbing for leaks, check toilets to ensure they are not running continuously, and install water saving devices in toilets, faucets, and showers. Facilities with automatic flush valves should adjust the valves to double the time between flushes.
6. Water users should reduce their shower time, use a lower level of water while bathing in a tub, shut off the water while bathing, shaving, brushing their teeth, or preparing food, and only do full loads of laundry and dishes.

For more information, please visit Regional Water’s website, rwrwa.org or contact the Regional Water Office at 712-343-2413.

Reminder: Please Conserve - Level Yellow Water Restrictions

April 11, 2025

Drinking Water Advisory
Level Yellow Press Release
Regional Water’s Board of Directors would like to remind the member customers and communities on their ATP System (does not include the Underwood, McClelland, or Weston area) that we are still in Alert Level Yellow – Mandatory Nonessential Water Restrictions. This is the second highest alert level in our Emergency Water Conservation Plan.
General Manager Tom Kallman stated that “Usage is up, but the water levels in our wellfield are below last year’s levels, and we haven’t even gotten through the Spring yet. We will not be able to provide water for our customers’ needs this Summer if we don’t conserve immediately. The result will be the rationing of water, something we have never had to do here.”
Agricultural, commercial, industrial, municipal, and residential users are asked to observe the following reduction measures:
A. Large volume water users, including livestock confinement facilities and spraying operations should look at alternative water sources, to include Council Bluffs Water Works retail water points, as well as non-potable sources.
B. Don’t water unless absolutely necessary and only between the hours of 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM.
C. Encourage the use of existing private wells where possible.
D. Commercial water users, including industries, motels, hotels, and eating establishments should conduct a water usage audit to reduce water use accordingly.
E. All water users should examine their plumbing for leaks, check toilets to ensure they are not running continuously, and install water saving devices in toilets, faucets, and showers. Facilities with automatic flush valves should adjust the valves to double the time between flushes.
F. Water users should reduce their shower time, use a lower level of water while bathing in a tub, shut off the water while bathing, shaving, brushing their teeth, or preparing food, and only do full loads of laundry and dishes.
For more information, please visit Regional Water’s website, rwrwa.org or contact the Regional Water Office at 712-343-2413.
This notice is being sent to you by Regional Water
PWSID#: IA8300184
Date distributed: 4-11-2025