Lambert issues precautionary boil water notice for residents

A boil water alert in the Lambert area put about 126 customers on notice after a system-wide pressure loss tied to one or more line breaks. The West Lambert Water Association issued the precautionary alert on July 2, and the Mississippi State Department of Health said residents should boil water vigorously for one minute before using it for drinking or food preparation.

The alert covered homes and businesses along Ponderosa Rd., Alex Gates Rd., Fox Gates Rd., Horton Rd., Barron Rd., Lockett Rd., Tutor Rd., Mays Rd., Sabino Rd., Section 5 and Thompson Rd. For families, that meant treating tap water as unsafe for the basics of daily life, from morning coffee and cereal to baby formula, dishwashing and meals for older relatives who may not have easy access to bottled water.

Health officials said pressure loss can allow contaminants to siphon back into a water distribution system, which is why precautionary notices go out when a line break knocks a system off balance. The state health department said individual water systems issue these notices when pressure is lost, and that the local system is responsible for alerting customers directly. The West Lambert notice was still listed among active boil-water alerts on the state water-safety page in the latest update, which showed the problem had not yet been cleared.

For Lambert churches, daycares, summer programs and small food businesses, the immediate effect was practical rather than abstract. Church kitchens had to hold off on cooking and serving with untreated tap water. Daycare workers and parents had to think ahead about safe water for bottles and snacks. Restaurant and catering operators in the area had to make sure anything used for drinking, ice, cooking or washing food came from a safe source until the all-clear was given.

Residents seeking more information were directed to call 662-444-1964. Quitman County has multiple public water systems, including the Town of Lambert and the West Lambert Water Association, which is part of why a localized pressure problem could disrupt one stretch of roads while leaving other systems untouched. Until officials lift the notice, the rule remains the same: boil before using the water, or use a safe alternative.