The boil water advisory in Festus has ended, the city announced on its website this morning, Oct. 26. The announcement was posted at about 8 a.m. today.
City Administrator Greg Camp said a second test for contamination came back negative this morning. Two negative test results were required before the advisory was lifted, and Camp said the first negative result was received Tuesday, Oct. 25.
“Everyone should empty their ice makers and let their faucets run for a few minutes before they start consuming the water,” Camp said.
The city’s residents and businesses had to boil tap water before consuming it since about 7 p.m. Oct. 22, after a subcontractor for AT&T damaged a water main on South Mill Avenue, leaving customers without water for much of that day, Camp said.
He said about a million gallons of water were lost after the water main was damaged and before city crews could complete repairs. He said the volume of water gushing out of the main made repairing it difficult.
“The contractor for AT&T, Sunrise Telecom, struck a water main with a boring machine sometime before noon,” Camp said. “I think we got everything back in order by about 8:20 p.m. or just after.”
For more information, go to the city’s website, cityoffestus.org. City officials also said on the website that those impacted by the advisory may contact Sunrise Telecom at 636-226-4242 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.