Mandatory boil order impacts Owasso residents in Rogers County Rural Water District #3

Rogers County Rural Water District #3 is under a mandatory boil order issued by the Oklahoma Environmental Quality. A water sample collected on Thursday tested positive for E. coli, prompting the order.

Water District Manager Kelly King said his staff was flushing lines, and more samples were being collected for testing from all points in the area under the order.

DEQ published a map showing the affected area, which King said includes about 5,000 customers. It includes the much smaller area of District 12, which is surrounded by District 3.

Image Provided By: DEQ

DEQ officials say customers in the affected areas should bring water to a full, rolling boil for at least one minute before using it for:

1. Drinking
2. Cooking
3. Brushing teeth
4. Washing dishes

E. coli bacteria can cause stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. The risk is especially high for infants, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

DEQ will be testing samples collected daily until no E. coli is detected, and the boil order will be lifted immediately after, according to DEQ Public Information Officer Erin Hatfield.