BELLE PLAINE, Minn — Editor’s Note: The video above first aired on April 7, 2023.
The city of Belle Plaine is advising all residents to boil their water after a mechanical failure over the weekend caused the municipal water system to lose pressure.
City officials say pressure loss like the one experienced Sunday can allow contaminants like bacteria, viruses and parasites to enter the system, increasing the chances of humans becoming sick. Symptoms that indicate waterborne illness include nausea, cramps, diarrhea and associated headaches.
Residents are being told to use bottled water, or to boil tap water for at least a minute if using it for drinking, food preparation or teeth brushing to kill contaminants.
The city says water pressure has already been restored to the system, and samples will be collected and analyzed to see if it is safe. Residents will be informed when tests indicate the water is safe to drink and boiling is no longer needed.
After the system has restored pressure and the advisory lifted, it’s recommended that all residents flush the plumbing systems in their homes or residences.
For more information on drinking water advisories, check out the Minnesota Department of Health website.
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11’s newscasts. You’ll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist: