Author: Tracy Roberts

For Immediate Release
November 5, 2024
Contact: Jill Bronaugh
Jill.P.Bronaugh@ks.gov
Boil Water Advisory Rescinded for the City of Galena, Cherokee County
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Galena public water supply system located in Cherokee County. The advisory was issued because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in a portion of the distribution system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Galena indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.
For consumer questions, please contact the water system at: 620-783-5265 or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit our webpage: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service.

Boil Water Advisory Issued for City of Galena, Cherokee County.

The City of Galena located in Cherokee County has issued a Boil Water Advisory for its distribution system for all residences on Shaw Hill Rd and Mercy Specialty Hospital and all buildings on that campus.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

• If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.

• Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.

• Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.

• Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.

• Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.

The advisory took effect on 11/02/2024 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. City of Galena officials issued the advisory because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system.  Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

For consumer questions, please contact the water system, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage: http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm

Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at  kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767.

Galena Public Works is currently working on a water line break on Shaw Hill Road. Please avoid the area so that our crews can repair the line as quickly and safely as possible.

It is possible that water pressure may be briefly reduced in some areas of town.

Galena Public Works will be cleaning up City Park after a large tree was struck by lightning. The tree was heavily damaged and will need to be removed. Please be careful around the area of debris.