Laughlin residents, businesses still required to boil tap water
People in homes and businesses in Laughlin, including the resorts along the Colorado River, were still required Monday to boil their tap water before drinking it or cooking with it.
A mandatory boil order issued Saturday by the Big Bend Water District was expected to remain in effect into Tuesday, as water officials worked to verify that the community‘s water supply was once again safe for human consumption.
The unusual order was the result of flash flooding Friday that washed dirt and mud into the Colorado River near Davis Dam, polluting the community‘s water supply.
Water quality samples taken Saturday showed particulate levels five to seven times what is allowed under safe drinking water standards, but by Sunday tests indicated that Laughlin‘s treatment plant was once again producing water that met safety standards.
Just to be sure, the boil order was kept in place while a second round of confirmation sampling was conducted. Those samples were collected Monday, and the test results are expected Tuesday.
The order will be lifted once the Big Bend Water District, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and the Nevada Bureau of Safe Drinking Water are confident the water is safe to drink, according to a statement from Big Bend, which is operated by the Las Vegas Valley Water District.
For now, only boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and preparing food until further notice.
To ensure its safety, tap water should be brought to a roiling boil and kept that way for at least one minute, then cooled and placed in clean containers for use or refrigeration.
Water can be used straight from the tap for bathing and hand washing, though additional disinfection such as hand sanitizer is recommended.
Residents and businesses in Laughlin are also being asked to limit their water use by shutting off outdoor sprinklers and irrigation systems while the boil order is in effect.
Bottled water was being distributed at the town‘s Regional Government Center over the weekend and on Monday.
For more information, Big Bend Water District customers can all the 24-hour customer service number at 702-870-4194.
Contact Henry Brean at hbrean@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0350. Find him on Twitter: @RefriedBrean
