LAFAYETTE, La. – A boil water advisory has been issued for approximately 12,000 residents in Lafayette, affecting those living north of Interstate 10. According to Heidi Tweedel, spokesperson for Lafayette Utilities Services (LUS), the advisory covers a widespread area, making it difficult to pinpoint specific streets.
“We typically provide a more detailed list of streets for boil water advisories, but in this case, the affected area is so large that we can only specify that it’s north of I-10,” Tweedel explained.
Residents in the affected area are being urged to boil their water for at least one full minute to ensure it is safe for consumption. LUS has addressed common concerns about other uses of water during a boil advisory, such as showering or bathing. Tweedel clarified that it is safe to bathe or shower in the water, as long as it is not ingested. However, she advised parents to take extra precautions when bathing young children, as they might inadvertently swallow water.
“It’s safe to use the water for bathing or showers, but just don’t ingest it. If you’re bathing little kids, you may want to take extra care to avoid them swallowing any water,” Tweedel added.
The exact duration of the advisory remains uncertain. LUS officials are waiting for water pressure levels to stabilize before they can begin testing the water to determine if it meets safety standards. Once the levels stabilize, LUS will take water samples for testing according to guidelines set by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH). However, Tweedel noted that the testing process typically takes 24 hours.
“We need stable water pressure before we can start testing, and that process can take a full day,” she said. “We’re asking residents to conserve water so we can move forward with that process as soon as possible.”
As the community waits for updates, LUS is encouraging residents to continue conserving water in the meantime. No timeline has been provided for when the advisory will be lifted.
For now, the boil water advisory remains in effect until further notice. Residents are urged to continue following the recommended precautions to ensure their safety.