Department of Health issues water boil advisory for Greenville Water District

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of Health has issued an advisory for residents in the Greenville Water District Water System to boil their tap water.

The advisory is specifically for any customers of the system who where without water or lost water pressure on or after Monday.

The loss is due to a water main break, which can result in low or no pressure which raises the risk of contamination, the department said.

Residents served by the system are advised to vigorously boil water that is to be used for consumption for at least one minute.

This includes water sued for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation.

Infants and young children should not be bathed in the water as they may swallow it, the department added.

Boiling water kills bacteria and other contaminants in water.

The department said that anyone who has a fever over 101.5 degrees, blood in the stool, prolonged vomiting that prevents keeping liquids down, signs of dehydration, or diarrheal illness that lasts more than three days should contact a doctor. These symptoms may be a result of bacterial infection from contaminated water.