MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Light, Gas and Water issued a precautionary boil-water advisory for more than 257,000 customers Thursday.
The notice was issued due to recent water main breaks and freezing temperatures, which caused low water pressure in MLGW’s water system. As of Friday at noon, the utility company had repaired 55 water main breaks around the county and were still working on three more.
According to state officials, the local hospitals are reporting water pressure issues. St. Francis reporteldy received tanker trucks of water Thursday evening to replenish their supply.
The Tennessee National Guard and TEMA is working to supply more.
Low water pressure and water main breaks are a health and safety concern as they could allow bacteria to enter the system, MLGW said. Customers should boil water for three minutes, or purchase bottled water, until further notice.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the following tips for customers under a boil water advisory:
- Use bottled or boiled water for drinking, and to prepare and cook food.
- Boil tap water even if it is filtered.
- Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator.
- Breastfeeding is the best infant feeding option. If you formula feed your child, provide ready-to-use formula, if available.
Handwashing
- In many situations, you can use tap water and soap to wash hands. Follow the guidance from your local public health officials.
- Be sure to scrub your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and rinse them well under running water.
- If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Bathing and showering
- Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.
- Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
Brushing teeth
- Brush teeth with boiled or bottled water. Do not use untreated tap water.
Washing dishes
- If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils during a boil water advisory.
- Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if the water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65.55°Celsius), or if the dishwater has a sanitizing cycle.
- Sterilize all baby bottles.
- To wash dishes by hand:
- Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water.
- In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water.
- Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute.
- Let the dishes air dry completely before using again.
- To wash dishes by hand:
Laundry
- It is safe to wash clothes as usual.
Cleaning
- Use bottled water, boiled water, or water that has been disinfected with bleach pdf icon[PDF – 1 page] to clean washable toys and surfaces.
Caring for pets
- Pets can get sick by some of the same germs as people or spread germs to people. Provide bottled or boiled water after it has been cooled for pets to use.
- If bottled water is not available, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes), then allow it to cool before use.
- Boil tap water even if it is filtered.
- Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator.
Caring for your garden and houseplants
- You can use tap water for household plants and gardens.
Main breaks have also left some Shelby County residents with little or no running water. For example, the only running water Daphne Miller has in her Southeast Shelby County home is a small trickle in her bathroom sink.
“You can’t take a shower. You can’t use the commode,” she said, “I guess you could go outside and melt some snow to get some water.”
Many residents demanded MLGW officials answer questions about the water issues during a small business seminar the utility held live on Facebook Thursday afternoon. Some who watched even called the event tone deaf when officials failed to answer any water questions in the comment section. MLGW told us that was not the subject of the seminar.
Snow could stick around a while as crews work to clear major Memphis streets
Germantown, Collierville and Bartlett officials said they had independent water systems and customers there would not be affected by the boil water notice.
Lakeland officials said they hadn’t seen an order from MLGW, but said once it was issued, they would advise customers there to follow it.
A portion of Millington’s customers are served by water from MLGW, according to the city’s website.
MLGW asked customers on Wednesday to reduce their water usage into Friday, or they could be dealing with a water shortage. That led to rumors that the company was cutting off water, but a spokesperson said that rumor was false.
Several days of sub-freezing temperatures reaching near zero have frozen pipes in homes and under streets and put a strain on the system.