Residents of Ray County’s Public Water District 2 faced a challenging situation last week when a fiber installation company accidentally severed a water pipe, prompting a boil advisory. However, as the days passed, the lack of communication from local media outlets left residents uncertain about the advisory’s status and safety precautions.
The incident occurred on Tuesday evening at approximately 7:20 pm when a company involved in laying fiber infrastructure inadvertently cut through a crucial water pipe, causing an immediate response from local authorities. Ray County swiftly sent out a text message to affected residents, warning them of the “ACTIVE BOIL ORDER” for the area encompassing U Highway and M Highway, specifically targeting customers of Public Water District 2.
In the days that followed, residents found themselves questioning whether the advisory was still in effect, as they received no updates through television broadcasts or local news sources. Faced with this information void, concerned citizens turned to social media platforms to seek answers and share information with fellow residents. Reports emerged of many residents experiencing water shortages, while others encountered clouded, dirty, and even milky water conditions.
To shed light on the situation, we reached out to PWSD 2 Superintendent John Ritchie, who expressed that, in his 48-year tenure in public works, this incident marked the longest advisory to date. Ritchie clarified that the department utilizes various communication channels, including robocalls, text messages, radio announcements, and television news broadcasts. However, when confronted with the claim that some citizens had not received notifications, Ritchie explained that individuals must have a working contact number registered with the department, adding that many had chosen to opt out of text notifications when they switched to that mode of communication.
Ritchie further highlighted a common misunderstanding between media outlets and the department when addressing such incidents. He clarified that there is a distinction between a “Boil Order” and a “Boil Advisory.” Throughout his tenure, there had only been one Boil Order issued, which constitutes a direct instruction to boil water before consumption. In contrast, a Boil Advisory serves as an alert to citizens, allowing them to decide whether they wish to take precautionary measures and boil their water.
The boil advisory lasted for a duration of three days, causing inconvenience for affected residents such as Troy Snelling, who stated his intention to seek reimbursement from the fiber company responsible for the pipe break. For those who did not receive the initial notification and reside within the district, it is strongly recommended to contact the department and ensure that accurate contact information is on file. We have also requested to be included for any notifications in the future.
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