HOLMES COUNTY, Miss.–If you’ve ever wondered how the state Dept. of Health would handle a drinking water emergency, you’re getting a look with the West Hill Water Assoc. in Holmes County. After tests that showed no contamination, you’re being told you can drink the water again, and use it to take a bath.
That is, all residents except those south of U.S. Highway 12 who receive their water from waterlines along Owens Wells Road, Wells Road and Fowler Road.
The Dept. of Health told you not to drink the water if you live there last Monday after an incident involving “an agricultural product”. That may have made for an inconvenience, but they had to make sure that it was safe.
The department is currently performing additional testing of water samples and will be informing West Hill customers in the affected area mentioned above as soon as test results show the water is safe to drink, said a news release. Sampling and testing can be expected to continue for at least a week.
In addition to sampling and testing, the water system is being flushed to clear any unsafe water from the system. Levels of contaminants are steadily dropping, but customers still affected by the alert should observe the following precautions:
- Do not DRINK or BATHE in your tap water until further notice.
- Take precautions with pets and other animals who consume their water from the West Hill Water Association.
- Until further notice, use only bottled water for drinking and all other household activities including bathing, laundry, dishwashing, and cooking.
No illnesses from this contamination have been reported. However, if you do experience unusual physical symptoms please call your physician.
If you need more information, contact John Wigley at 662-834-3973 after 5:00 p.m, Sara Ellis at 601-940-5358 or John Ellington at 662-770-9011.
