This article was updated at 8:55 p.m.

By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – St. John the Baptist Parish Officials have issued a boil water advisory for all water customers in LaPlace that are served by the Ruddock Water system.

St. John Emergency Operations Director Paul Oncale said maintenance work was performed at the Ruddock Well site Saturday and a sample taken after the work did not meet state Department of Health and Hospitals guidelines for contaminants.

Oncale said further water testing was performed and samples will be sent to DHH in Baton Rouge for approval. He said the advisory could last throughout the weekend.

It is recommended for all homeowners in the LaPlace area to disinfect their water before consuming it, brushing teeth, or using it for food preparation by any one of the following means:

Boil water for one full minute in a clean container. The boil time begins after the water has been brought to a rolling boil. The flat taste can be eliminated by shaking the water in a bottle or pouring it from one container to another.

If the water is clear, mix 1/8 teaspoon of unscented, liquid chlorine laundry bleach with one gallon of water and let it stand for at least 30 minutes prior to consumption. If the water is cloudy or colored, use ¼ teaspoon per gallon of water. Be sure to mix thoroughly. If the treated water has too strong a chlorine taste, it can be made more palatable by allowing the water to stand exposed to the air for a few hours or by pouring it from one clean container to another several times.

“Our staff is working to correct this issue as quickly as possible. We urge all residents to take the necessary precautions and to disinfect their water prior to consumption by one of the above listed methods. We will notify our residents immediately when the water has been deemed safe to drink”, said Parish President Natalie Robottom.