Boil Water Notice Lifted for Kannapolis
Officials say water is safe to use after E. coli concerns; residents advised to flush systems before resuming normal use.
The City of Kannapolis has officially lifted its boil water notice as of 6 p.m. on April 25, following confirmation from local and state water quality tests that the water supply is safe for all uses.
City officials announced that residents no longer need to boil water for drinking, cooking, or other household purposes. Restaurants and businesses are also permitted to reopen and resume normal operations.
The advisory, first issued Friday morning, was prompted by routine testing that detected contaminants associated with E. coli in a small area of the system.
Although the affected lines were flushed, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality required a citywide boil notice as a precaution. Officials say all required testing and safety protocols have now been completed.
Before returning to normal water use, residents are advised to take several precautionary steps to ensure their household systems are fully flushed and safe.
Run all cold water faucets for at least 15 minutes to clear the service lines, followed by all hot water faucets for at least 15 minutes to replace the water in your heater with fresh, treated water.
Discard any ice made during the advisory and cycle your ice maker or water dispenser at least three times before use.
Run your dishwasher on a full, empty cycle using the hot water setting, and operate your washing machine on a hot cycle before washing clothes.
Residents should also replace all water filter cartridges, including those in refrigerators, pitchers, and under-sink systems, as they may have trapped contaminants.
Finally, flush showerheads and other fixtures by running them for several minutes.
Businesses are encouraged to take additional measures, including extended system flushing, sanitizing ice machines, and replacing filtration systems to ensure water safety.
“We know this has been a difficult couple of days and we are grateful to our community for stepping up to distribute water to those in need and for your patience as we followed all procedures to ensure we have quality drinking water,” said Kannapolis Water Resources Director Alex Anderson.
The boil water notice has also been lifted for nearby municipalities, including Concord and Landis.
City facilities and events are returning to normal operations. The Gem Theatre and Swanee Theatre will both be open tonight, and the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers game will proceed as scheduled tonight.
Meanwhile, all city parks and shelters are set to reopen tomorrow.
Residents seeking additional guidance, particularly restaurants, are encouraged to consult the Cabarrus Health Allianceand the Rowan County Health Department.
Officials say the water system is now fully safe, marking the end of the advisory.