Ephrata Area Joint Authority water system customers under a boil water advisory since Wednesday night will have to wait until at least Saturday for the next update concerning the alert.
Ephrata Borough in a Thursday afternoon statement posted at its website said laboratory results of a series of water quality tests were expected over “the next couple of days.”
The authority on Wednesday night advised its nearly 9,400 customers in Ephrata Borough and Clay and Ephrata townships to boil their water until further notice following a positive “tier 2” test result on a bacteria sample.
“We will provide another update as soon as additional information is available, which will be Saturday, July 25th at the earliest,” the borough said in its statement.
A notice on the authority’s website advised customers to bring water to a rolling boil, let it boil for a minute, and let it cool before using. The notice suggested using the boiled water or bottled water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and preparing food.
The notice warned that inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms including bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and headaches.
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Unless otherwise advised by local officials, taking a shower is safe during boil water advisories, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which warns people not to swallow the water while showering.
The agency also notes it is safe to do laundry and use dishwashers that have a sanitizing cycle or reach a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees.
The Ephrata Area Joint Authority produces more than 700 million gallons of water annually, about one-third from the Cocalico Creek and the rest from groundwater wells. Water from the creek is treated at the Church Street filtration plant in Ephrata Borough that was built in 1932 and upgraded in 1985.
“We understand the inconvenience this may cause, but the safety of our water customers remains our top priority,” the borough said in its statement Thursday. “We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we complete the necessary testing and review process in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).”