Henryetta And Dewar Under Boil Order

NewsOn6.com

HENRYETTA, Oklahoma -- Water customers in and around the Okmulgee County communities of Henryetta and Dewar are being asked to boil their drinking and cooking water. Raymond Eldridge with the city of Henryetta says the water treatment facility is working around the clock to fix the problem.

Henryetta Schools canceled classes on Wednesday because of the water problem. Eldridge says about 10,000 customers are impacted by the boil order in both communities.

Flood waters have increased the murkiness of the lake and the city's current treatment facility is unable to retain water long enough to bring it up to Oklahoma water standards.

"We haven't pumped any water that didn't meet standards," Eldridge said, adding that the boil order is a voluntary precaution.

"Rather than sending water that doesn't meet Oklahoma water standards, we are not pumping any water to town. We're asking that they limit the amount that they use and do the boil order for any cooking or drinking water."

He suggests customers boil water for one minute until further notice.