Quick take
- Cullen’s boil advisory has not been officially lifted, the Webster Parish Journal reported Fri., Oct. 30. Town officials have urged residents to keep following it until further notice.
- At the town’s regular meeting, held Oct. 27 according to the Journal, Floydean White announced Cullen was “off the boil advisory,” then took that back after residents asked who had authorized it, the Journal reported.
- Chlorine went back into the water system in late October from a new supplier after months of supply problems. KTBS reported Oct. 30 that the new supplier is in Monroe.
- Adding chlorine does not by itself mean the advisory can be lifted. The Louisiana Department of Health says a system can lift an advisory only after water samples test negative for coliform bacteria and chlorine levels are adequate.
Cullen water customers should keep boiling their water. The town’s boil advisory has not been officially lifted. Town officials have urged residents to keep following it until further notice, the Webster Parish Journal reported Friday, Oct. 30.
What happened
At the town’s regular meeting, which the Journal reported was held Oct. 27, Floydean White announced that Cullen was “off the boil advisory.” She took the announcement back after residents asked when it had been lifted and which authority had approved it, the Journal reported.
Chlorine was put back into the water system in late October after months of trouble keeping a supply. The town had fallen behind on what it owed its old supplier, Hawkins. The Journal reported that Hawkins no longer wanted to work with Cullen. KTBS reported Oct. 30 that a new chlorine supplier has been found in Monroe. The town office named the new supplier as Aqua Pro, according to the Journal.
KTBS also reported Oct. 30 that the town “has been under a boil advisory as problems persisted with the water treatment.” The Journal reported that Cullen has gone at least a year without a certified water treatment technician.
What to do
The Louisiana Department of Health says customers under a boil order should boil their water before using it, or use bottled water. To boil water, the department says to bring it to a full rolling boil, let it boil for one minute and then let it cool before use.
Having chlorine back in the system does not by itself mean the water meets state requirements or that the advisory can be lifted, the Journal noted. The health department says a water system can lift an advisory only after all water samples test negative for coliform bacteria and the chlorine level is adequate.
We will update this story when the town or the state says the advisory has been lifted.