The Town of Purcellville today issued a boil water advisory following a water main break in the drinking water system. All residents and business are advised to comply until further notice.

Failure to boil drinking water prior to consuming could result in illnesses, according to the announcement.

Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, beverage and food preparation, and making ice until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.  Boiling is the preferred method to ensure that the tap water is safe to drink.  Bring all tap water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or used bottled water.

If you cannot boil your tap water an alternative method of purification for residents that do not have gas or electricity available is to use liquid household bleach to disinfect the water.  The bleach product should be recently purchased, free of additives and scents and should contain a hypochlorite solution of at least 5.25%. Public health officials recommend adding 8 drops of bleach (about ¼ teaspoon) to each gallon of water. The water should be stirred and allowed to stand for at least 30 minutes before use. Water purification tablets may also be used by following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Once the boil water advisory has been lifted, residents will be notified through the same methods of communication used to notify of the advisory.