ESCALANTE, Utah (KUTV) -- Residents of Escalante in Southern Utah should expect to boil all drinking water for the next couple of days as officials work to resolve the cause of muddy water in the system.
Escalante City officials issued a boil order Saturday afternoon after confirming reports of muddy water. They said they are working on conducting water samples, but fixing the issue could take a couple of days or more.
Residents are directed to boil water before cooking with or drinking it. They said to bring water to a boil for at least one minute, then let it cool before use. This should be done before drinking water, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and preparing food.
Officials also urged Escalante residents to conserve water as the spring line was turned off.
While they have not yet confirmed the presence of any bacteria, they did list some symptoms of E. coli to be aware of, including cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and headaches.
"If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice," officials said. "People at increased risk should seek advice from their health care providers about the drinking water."
City officials asked residents to help share the information with anyone who may not have seen the notice, such as people in apartments, schools, businesses, and nursing homes.
For more information on how to reduce the risk of possible infection, call the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or visit the Utah Department of Environmental Quality's website.