The city of Auburn and the Cayuga County Health Department issued a boil order Thursday night for residents who are on public water and live in Auburn, Throop, Aurelius, Brutus, Sennett and Weedsport.
Glenn Gaston / Special to The Citizen
Auburn firefighter Paul Komanecky gets helped into a hazardous material suit by fellow firefighter Mike Calarco, right, and Throop firefighter Matt Morgenthaler, center, during a mock suicide bombing drill held at the Whitford Airport in Weedsport Thursday night.
Auburn firefighter Paul Komanecky gets helped into a hazardous material suit by fellow firefighter Mike Calarco, right, and Throop firefighter Matt Morgenthaler, center, during a mock suicide bombing drill held at the Whitford Airport in Weedsport Thursday night.
As of noon today, Port Byron was scheduled to be off its tank and residents in that village are asked to boil water as well.
The warning is expected to be in place until at least August 16.
The order comes after the city of Auburn had been upgrading its rapid sand filters at Auburn's water treatment plant. One filter had been off-line and was being repaired when the second filter failed.
Because of the breakdown, the city has less capacity to produce treated water and, due to demand, the city has introduced unfiltered water into the system.
Cayuga County Environmental Health Director Eileen O'Connor said the filter may be replaced this weekend, but that the city would need to test the filtration system before giving residents clearance to use the water.
"Once the filter is fixed, we'll have to do some samplings," said O'Connor. "People should continue to watch media for updates."
The city advises all users to let water boil for one minute and let it cool before using it. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and preparing food until further notice.
Boiling kills most bacteria in the water. Harmful microbes in drinking water can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea and headaches.
Residents in the city and towns affected have been asked to conserve water by refraining from watering lawns, washing cars or using water for any unnecessary uses.
Boiling kills most bacteria in the water. Harmful microbes in drinking water can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea and headaches.
Residents in the city and towns affected have been asked to conserve water by refraining from watering lawns, washing cars or using water for any unnecessary uses.
The Auburn Wegmans grocery store is selling bottled water as fast as they can stock it. At 6 a.m. Friday, there were 25 people lined up at the store for water.
"We received a tractor trailer load at 11 last night," said store manager Elmer Alton Friday morning, "and we're down to about 5 of the 22 skids left. We have two more tractor trailer loads coming from Rochester. We might run out for an hour or two but otherwise we should be OK."
Steve Kotzer, grocery manager at P&C, said they sold an unbelievable amount of water this morning. And last night "we got blasted, but we were ready for it."
Restaurants were forced to adjust quickly this morning.
Laurie Wittmer of McDonald's on West Genesee Street said they had a few angry customers this morning who came looking for a cup of coffee to start the day.
"They need their coffee to start the day and so do we, but we're making do," said Wittmer.
Another favorite for morning coffee drinkers, Dunkin' Donuts, was reported closed this morning.
Calls to both Auburn franchises were not answered.
Boil water order
As of Friday morning, the boil water list had been updated and now includes Auburn, Throop, Aurelius, Brutus and all of Sennett. At noon Friday, Port Byron was to be added to the list.
For more information
Call the city of Auburn at 253-8754 or the Cayuga County Health
Department at 255-1165.
The warning is expected to be in place until at least August 16.
The order comes after the city of Auburn had been upgrading its rapid sand filters at Auburn's water treatment plant. One filter had been off-line and was being repaired when the second filter failed.
Because of the breakdown, the city has less capacity to produce treated water and, due to demand, the city has introduced unfiltered water into the system.
Cayuga County Environmental Health Director Eileen O'Connor said the filter may be replaced this weekend, but that the city would need to test the filtration system before giving residents clearance to use the water.
"Once the filter is fixed, we'll have to do some samplings," said O'Connor. "People should continue to watch media for updates."
The city advises all users to let water boil for one minute and let it cool before using it. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and preparing food until further notice.
Boiling kills most bacteria in the water. Harmful microbes in drinking water can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea and headaches.
Residents in the city and towns affected have been asked to conserve water by refraining from watering lawns, washing cars or using water for any unnecessary uses.
Boiling kills most bacteria in the water. Harmful microbes in drinking water can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea and headaches.
Residents in the city and towns affected have been asked to conserve water by refraining from watering lawns, washing cars or using water for any unnecessary uses.
The Auburn Wegmans grocery store is selling bottled water as fast as they can stock it. At 6 a.m. Friday, there were 25 people lined up at the store for water.
"We received a tractor trailer load at 11 last night," said store manager Elmer Alton Friday morning, "and we're down to about 5 of the 22 skids left. We have two more tractor trailer loads coming from Rochester. We might run out for an hour or two but otherwise we should be OK."
Steve Kotzer, grocery manager at P&C, said they sold an unbelievable amount of water this morning. And last night "we got blasted, but we were ready for it."
Restaurants were forced to adjust quickly this morning.
Laurie Wittmer of McDonald's on West Genesee Street said they had a few angry customers this morning who came looking for a cup of coffee to start the day.
"They need their coffee to start the day and so do we, but we're making do," said Wittmer.
Another favorite for morning coffee drinkers, Dunkin' Donuts, was reported closed this morning.
Calls to both Auburn franchises were not answered.
Boil water order
As of Friday morning, the boil water list had been updated and now includes Auburn, Throop, Aurelius, Brutus and all of Sennett. At noon Friday, Port Byron was to be added to the list.
For more information
Call the city of Auburn at 253-8754 or the Cayuga County Health
Department at 255-1165.
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