Water Boil Advisory

Posted May 12, 2025
Posted by Emergency Management and Public Relations

Pottawattamie County, Iowa - City of Avoca and nearby rural areas of Pottawattamie County served by Regional Water RWA have been issued a water boil advisory due to sporadic outages of water supply caused by draught conditions impacting the utility. Regional Water is recommending boiling water before using it for drinking and to use an alternative source if possible for its Avoca Treatment Plant customers. This includes all RWRWA 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.

What does a water boil advisory mean?

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.

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.

Who should I contact for more information?

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.

Is there water testing available? 

Yes, if you've been affected by the boil advisory and are switching to a private well, Pottawattamie County Planning and Development is offering free well water testing. For more information, call 712-328-5792. 

What happens after water service is restored? 

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.

Pottawattamie County Emergency Management will provide more updates as they are made available.