Boil-Water Alert Issued for Crowder After Line Breaks, Affects 320 Customers

A boil-water alert for the Town of Crowder went into effect Jan. 27 after water system officials reported a system-wide loss of pressure following line breaks during the recent winter storm. The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) posted the advisory after officials warned that pressure loss can allow contaminants to enter the distribution system; until testing shows otherwise, the system is considered potentially contaminated.

The advisory affects all 320 customers served by the Town of Crowder system, including homes, businesses and public facilities in Quitman County. MSDH recommends that residents do not drink tap water unless it has been boiled vigorously for one minute. The department also instructed residents not to use tap water to make ice or beverages; to wash fruits and vegetables with boiled or bottled water; to wash dishes in boiled water or use disposable plates; and to brush teeth with bottled or boiled water. Bathing is allowed so long as water is not swallowed.

Small water systems like Crowder’s can be especially vulnerable to damage during severe weather because a single line break can depressurize the entire distribution network. Loss of pressure removes a primary protective barrier against backflow and intrusion of bacteria and other contaminants, raising the risk of gastrointestinal illness for people of all ages but especially for infants, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

MSDH advised customers to follow steps after the advisory is lifted, including discarding foods and ice made during the notice, re-washing food-contact items, replacing or inspecting filters and running dishwashers. The department also provided a faucet flushing schedule in the notice and urged residents to flush faucets according to that guidance once testing shows the system is safe.

Access to safe water is a basic public health necessity and a equity issue in rural communities. Residents who lack transportation, rely on fixed incomes, or live alone may have trouble obtaining bottled water or coping with extra household chores like boiling water and re-washing items. Neighbors and local groups can help by sharing information, offering rides to purchase water, or pooling resources while the advisory remains in place.

For more information or questions, contact the MSDH Bureau of Public Water Supply at 601-576-7518 (8 a.m.–5 p.m.) or the MSDH Epidemiology hotline at 601-576-7400 (24 hours). Officials say testing will determine when the advisory can be lifted; until then, Crowder residents should assume the system is potentially contaminated and follow the safety steps provided.