Students, faculty and staff-
Campus water supplier Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) is indicating the water supply is critically low. Do not drink or use water on campus until further notice.
University officials are closely monitoring this increasingly urgent situation and we will continue to deliver updates about any potential campus impacts.
The following is OWASA’s message:
NEWS RELEASE
February 3, 2017 at 11:20 AM
EMERGENCY-DO NOT USE OWASA WATER
Water supply is running out, OWASA directs customers not to use water
until further notice
OWASA directs its customers to not use water until further notice.
Due to a shutdown of the Jones Ferry Road Water Treatment Plant and a major water main break Friday morning on the northeast side of Chapel Hill near Dobbins Drive, the water supply in the OWASA system has reached very low levels. Using water could result in contamination of the OWASA system.
Customers are encouraged to use bottled water for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene.
Customers can use bottled water to flush a toilet, after pouring water into the tank. If a toilet does not have a tank, it may be possible to pour water into the bowl to flush.
OWASA is working to restore the Jones Ferry Road Water Treatment Plant to normal operation as soon as it is safe to do so. OWASA field personnel are working to repair the water main break as soon as possible.
OWASA will send updates.
Background information
Due to an accidental overfeed of fluoride within the water treatment process, OWASA began receiving drinking water from the City of Durham late Thursday afternoon.
The fluoride overfeed was contained at the Jones Ferry Road Water Treatment Plant. No water with higher than normal fluoride reached the water pipe system, so the water is safe to drink.