Boil Water Advisory Updates

The City of Grand Rapids Water System has canceled its Boil Water Advisory for those impacted by the June 13 water main break. The second round of water samples taken at the site produced negative results. It is no longer necessary to use bottled water or to boil water before drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and/or preparing food.


Read more information, including precautions to take prior to drinking the water.

Personal hygiene tips during a boil water advisory

Food preparation

  • Use bottled or boiled water to drink and prepare and cook food.
  • If bottled water is not available, bring it to a full rolling boil for 1 minute. After boiling, allow it to cool before use.
  • Do Not use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as water and ice from a refrigerator.

Handwashing

  • Vigorous handwashing with soap and your tap water for at least 20 seconds is safe for basic personal hygiene.
  • If you are washing your hands to prepare food, use boiled (then cooled) water, disinfected or bottled water with handwashing soap.

Showering/Bathing

  • Showering/bathing is safe, just be careful not to swallow any water.
  • For babies and young children, consider giving them a sponge bath.

Brushing teeth

  • Brush teeth with boiled or bottled water. Do not use tap water that you have not boiled first.

Laundry

  • It is safe to wash clothes as usual.

Washing dishes

  • If possible, use disposable dishes and utensils.
  • Dishwashers are generally safe to use if the water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees
  • Sanitize all baby bottles

Pets

  • Give pets bottled or boiled water

A boil water advisory may stay in effect for 3-4 days as we flush the system and sample water according to State and Federal requirements. However, you will receive a notification when the advisory is lifted.

The CDC website has a lot of great info on keeping you and your family safe during a Boil Water Advisory: https://www.cdc.gov/.../drinking.../boil-water-advisory.html If you have further questions, or need to report a water/sewer emergency, please contact customer service by dialing 616-456-3000, or dial 3-1-1 if you are within the city limits.

If your home and/or vehicle has been impacted by the watermain break of 06/13/24, you should contact your appropriate insurance provider and a remediation/restoration company of your choosing. You are still welcome to file a property damage claim for review and consideration by visiting the Risk Management department page.

What happened on June 13th?

Water Main Break Updates

Friday, June 14, 2024 8:00 A.M.

Adams and Philadelphia Main Break

  • 24” Watermain break has been fixed and energized.
  • Crews and street cleaning equipment are onsite to clean sand from the road and surrounding yards.
  • City staff will be going door to door today (6/14/24) to deliver three cases of bottled water to each property in the boil water advisory area. A big thank you to Meijer for donating nearly 1,000 cases of water!
  • First round of samples is being collected this morning and will be tested on Saturday morning.
  • Another set of samples will be collected on Saturday morning for testing on Sunday Morning.
  • The Boil Water Advisory will be lifted as soon as Sunday, if both samples come back clean.
  • Details of the test results will be released to the public as soon as they are completed.

Broken watermain pipe

Broken watermain pipe

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Piece of broken watermain pipe

Broken piece of watermain pipe

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Philadelphia Sanitary Sewer Repair

  • Sewer lines have been repaired and sanitary sewer service to the area has been restored.

All future information and updates will be provided here on this webpage and on the City's social media pages. 

water crews pumping water from a large hole filled with water

Grand Rapids Water System Customers - Boil Water Advisory

Today, June 13, 2024, at approximately 3:15 am, an area of the Grand Rapids Water System, Adams St: Fuller Ave. to Cambridge Ave., Edward Ave.: Adams St. to Boston St., Sylvan Ave.: Adams St. to Boston St., and Philadelphia Ave.: Adams St. to Boston St. experienced a water main break.  Currently, residents in this area do not have water.   

GR Water is actively responding to the main break on the SE side of Grand Rapids, which has impacted approximately 200 homes. Our field crews are currently on-site, working to repair the main break. Once water is restored in this area, customers should boil their water as a precaution.   

If you live outside of this area, your water is safe for use.  

We will continue to provide you with updates as they become available.  A boil water advisory may stay in effect for 3-4 days as we repair the break, flush the system, and sample water according to State and Federal requirements. You will receive a notification when the advisory is lifted.  

The CDC website has a lot of great info on keeping you and your family safe during a Boil Water Advisory.

If you have further questions, or need to report a water/sewer emergency, please get in touch with customer service by dialing 616-456-3000 or dial 3-1-1 if you are within the city limits.

 

Media Releases

Map of Affected Area

Map of the water advisory area near Adams St SE and Philadelphia Ave SE

Questions?

If you have further questions, or need to report a water/sewer emergency, please contact customer service by dialing (616) 456-3000, or dial 3-1-1 if you are within the city limits.

 

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