Cape residents under boil water order

A precautionary boil water order has been issued for about 1,500 Cape Girardeau residents in the area east of Sprigg Street from Bertling Street to Washington Avenue, including Towers Student Housing Complex and the Show Me Center.

This order is due to a 14-inch water main break near old Sprigg Street resulting from university maintenance activities. Officials say the main has been isolated and repair is underway.

"In accordance with state regulations, we are issuing a precautionary boil water order for areas that potentially lost pressure during the failure," said Kevin Priester, Public Works Water Division manager.

The boil water order will expire at 5 p.m. today.

The following precautions should be observed by affected residents: Boil water vigorously for three minutes prior to use; use only boiled water for drinking, brushing teeth, diluting fruit juices, and all other food preparations or consumption; dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic ice maker; remake ice cubes with water that has been boiled; disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.