A popular vacation spot near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin was under a “do not drink order” after high levels of the chemical nitrite were found in the drinking water, leading one of the area’s most popular restaurants to close temporarily “out of an abundance of caution.”
The order, for Williams Bay, was issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Wednesday. A letter from Williams Bay village president Adam Jarmillio said the order would remain in effect “until the nitrite levels throughout the system are acceptable.”
Williams Bay Waterworks also issued an alert about the nitrite Wednesday, advising residents in the village to “not use the tap water for drinking and cooking until further notice.”
Bottled water distribution to residents began Thursday and was expected to continue next week, the village said, with residents advised to use bottled water for all drinking, brushing teeth, food preparation and ice making “until further notice.”
“Do not try and treat the water yourself,” the alert said. “Boiling, freezing, adding chlorine or other disinfectants, or letting water stand will not make water safe.”
A post from the Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services said the emergency order only applied to Williams Bay residents.
“If you pay a water bill to the Village of Williams Bay, this information is for you,” the county said.
The order led Pier 290 in Williams Bay to close Thursday.
“We’ll reopen only when we know its safe to do so, so you can gather here with peace of mind,” a message from the restaurant posted to Facebook said.
Friday, the restaurant announced it was cleared by the WCHD to open for Labor Day weekend with “alternatively sourced water and ice for all food and beverages.”
Other restaurants nearby put out similar messages.
“Williams Bay has suffered an unfortunate event with their water and has issued a warning for drinking the tap water,” a Facebook post from Harpoon Willie’s said. “Cafe Calamari and Harpoon Willies as a result will not be offering village water to our guests, but will have bottled water available.”
The restaurant went on to say that soda lines and beverages would not be used, with liters of select beverages available instead.
“Our ice will be bagged ice from a water source outside of Williams Bay,” the post said. “Our kitchen will use bottled water for any cooking application.”
Officials said they believe the high levels are from the “nitrification of ammonia” occurring within the water system. In 2021, the WDNR notified Williams Bay that numbers were trending upward, with improvements expected to be completed by November 2025.
Until then, a “short-term” fix would be needed, the village said, with the order expected to be lifted “within a couple of weeks.”
Infants and pregnant people who drink water containing nitrite levels above the public health threshold could be at higher risk for health effects, officials, said, as studies have shown high levels of nitrite has been linked to “blue baby syndrome,” birth defects and some cancers.
According to the county, short-term exposure can can cause trouble breathing, fatigue or irritability, and bluish-colored skin around lips, fingertips and face.
NBC Chicago reached out to the City of Lake Geneva to confirm their operations were not impacted. As of the time of publication, the City had not responded.