Hundreds of Middletown homes warned to avoid drinking possibly contaminated tap water

The water line has since been repaired and pressure is restored but city officials warned residents in the Manchester Road area and surrounding neighborhoods to not drink from their home taps and to boil water before using, or drink bottled water.

“The City of Middletown has no evidence at this time that the water system is contaminated,” Shelby Quinlivan, spokeswoman for the Butler County city, said in a released statement.

“The possibility, however, does exist that the water system is contaminated and is issuing this advisory as a precaution,” said Quinlivan.

The water advisory area is bordered by Grand Avenue on the south, extending west to Aberdeen Road, north to Riviera Road and east to Interstate 75.

The multi-block area is traversed by Manchester Road and referred by city officials as the Manchester service area.

A map showing the advisory area is at the city’s Facebook page.

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“The pressure loss may also cause additional disruptions in water quality including discolored water and/or potentially a temporary increase in lead levels in the drinking water,” she said.

“We are investigating and taking the necessary steps to correct the problem as soon as possible including water quality sampling,” said Quinlivan.

The city advisory states: “DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT FLUSHING AND BOILING IT FIRST. Flush all taps used for drinking and cooking for at least 3 minutes. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for at least one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.”

City officials said “symptoms of the waterborne disease include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.”

“If you experience one or more of these symptoms and they persist, contact your doctor. People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly people may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.”