logo
Battle Creek issues boil water advisory for some residents during maintenance

Battle Creek issues boil water advisory for some residents during maintenance

Yahoo12-03-2025

The city of Battle Creek has issued a boil water advisory for some residents as it has shut down a portion of the water system for improvements or repairs, requiring crews to reduce the water pressure.
Because there is reduced pressure, there is potential for bacteria to enter the system.
Residents in the following areas have been issued the advisory Wednesday:
Kendall Street North, between Goodale Avenue West and Roosevelt Avenue West
Beglin Court, between Goodale Avenue West and Vineyard Avenue
Vineyard Avenue, between Kendall Street North and Washington Avenue North
Roosevelt Avenue West, between Kendall Street North and Howland Street
"The city has issues this advisory as a precaution. Such a precaution is recommended when we must reduce water pressure in the system," according to a city news release.
The city of Battle Creek advises residents to boil their tap water before consuming it.
Bring water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using. Residents should use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation, until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
"The City of Battle Creek is working to restore water pressure as soon as possible, after the improvement/repair work is completed. The water team will take other actions, such as hydrant/system flushing, and collecting bacteriological samples from around the affected area," according to the news release. "The city will test these samples to determine that the water quality meets the state drinking water standards. The City of Battle Creek will inform the local news media, and post updates on the City's website 'Alert Center' when tests show no bacteria and you no longer need to boil your water."
Sign up for alerts at battlecreekmi.gov/notifyme.
The sampling process and testing process takes a minimum of 24 hours, but may take longer. This boil water advisory will remain in effect until sample results verify the water is safe to drink.
For more information, please contact the city of Battle Creek at 269-966-3493.
General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Boil water advisory issued for Battle Creek March 12

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Groups petition EPA to act as ozone levels in Memphis exceed national health standards
Groups petition EPA to act as ozone levels in Memphis exceed national health standards

Yahoo

time4 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Groups petition EPA to act as ozone levels in Memphis exceed national health standards

Anti-pollution groups are petitioning the EPA to formally declare Memphis out of compliance with national health standards for ozone emissions. (Photo: Karen Pulfer Focht for Tennessee Lookout) Memphis and surrounding communities have ozone emissions levels that are too high to comply with national health standards, according to data published by the Environmental Protection Agency. A coalition of environmental groups is saying it's long past time for the federal agency and local regulators to tighten restrictions and require better emission controls for sources of air pollution. The Southern Environmental Law Center filed a petition with the Environmental Protection Agency on June 5, asking the EPA to formally recognize that the Memphis metro area is failing to meet federal requirements — a move that would trigger stricter requirements for future air permits. Ozone — also known as smog — is created when pollutants from cars, industrial plants, power plants and other sources react when exposed to sunlight, according to the EPA. Ozone exposure can damage airways and lead to difficulty breathing. People with asthma, emphysema, or those who spend a lot of time outdoors are particularly at risk, the EPA website states. The American Lung Association gave Shelby County an 'F' grade for ozone pollution this year. Ozone emissions averages have exceeded federal limits for the last two years, marking an increase in emissions since 2020. The Shelby County Health Department, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment are responsible for enforcing federal Clean Air Act requirements for the greater Memphis area. The SELC, along with partners Memphis Community Against Pollution, Young Gifted and Green and the Sierra Club criticizes the local regulators' efforts to reduce ozone emissions as inadequate. 'We've been trying to work with the local governments to persuade them to do more, and quicker, but they just aren't taking it seriously enough, so this was really a last resort to us,' SELC Senior Attorney Caroline Cress said. 'You know, the data doesn't lie. We know that it is unhealthy to breathe that air now, and we can't just sit by and let that continue to get worse.' The Shelby County Health Department could not be immediately reached for comment. The EPA set the air quality standard for ozone at 70 parts per billion in 2015. The agency is required to review its standards every five years, but decided not to change the ozone standard in 2020. The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee — which acts as an independent advisor to the EPA — issued a report in 2023 recommending that the standard be reduced to 55 to 60 parts per billion 'to be protective of public health.' The EPA has not yet changed the standard. The agency calculates a three-year benchmark figure using data from air monitors to measure compliance with the standard. The Memphis metro area has five air monitors that continuously collect data: three in Shelby County, one in Arkansas and one in Mississippi. Between 2021 and 2023, two of the Memphis-area monitors exceeded the standard. From 2022 to 2024, four of the five monitors exceeded the standard, with the fifth not far behind. There is no monitor located in South Memphis, where industrial development has ballooned in recent years. It's also home to majority Black communities who say they're being surrounded by industrial pollution. South Memphis communities have battled pollution for years, organizing in 2021 to stop the development of the Byhalia Pipeline, which would have transported crude oil through historically Black Southwest Memphis neighborhoods. The EPA investigated potential cancer clustering in neighborhoods surrounding the Sterilization Services of Tennessee facility in 2022, but found no evidence of higher concentrations of cancer diagnoses that could be connected to the facility. The sterilization company uses ethylene oxide, a colorless gas that has been linked to several types of cancer. The company has operated in compliance with EPA regulations, but the federal agency updated its regulations after studies showed the gas is 'more harmful to human health than we previously knew,' according to a report published by the Tennessee Department of Health in 2023. The Shelby County Health Department determines where to place monitors within Shelby County. The department's 2025 air monitoring network plan indicates that it received funding from the EPA to add a monitoring site in South Memphis, which has been without one for more than a decade. The plan does not include a proposed site, and states a monitor may be placed by late 2025 or 2026. The department could not be immediately reached for comment on the proposed South Memphis site. The EPA has authority to review data and declare an area as out of compliance at any time. 'We believe that it really does have an obligation at this point,' Cress said of the EPA. 'We are presenting it with its own data that is on its website that shows unequivocally that this area is violating federal standards.' Should the EPA change the Memphis area's designation, more stringent air quality permit requirements would impact Elon Musk's xAI (also known as the Colossus data center in South Memphis), 'among many other facilities that are emitting ozone-forming pollution,' Cress said. The petition alleges that xAI could be the 'largest stationary source' of ozone emissions in Shelby County, but because the methane gas-fired turbines being used to power the facility are unpermitted, the facility's emissions are unknown to the public. A representative from xAI could not be immediately reached for comment. Tennessee Rep. John Gillespie, a Memphis Republican, issued a statement Monday in support of xAI's Memphis facility, lauding the 'hundreds of high-paying jobs' created by the endeavor. 'Despite what some people would have you believe, xAI is not in the middle of a residential neighborhood,' Gillespie wrote. 'Instead, it's suitably located in the 3,500-acre Frank Pidgeon Industrial Park, a nearly 60-year-old industrial development that many native Memphians refer to as President's Island.' 'The industrial park has over one thousand acres specifically set apart from any residential areas, making it the perfect location for this technology to operate,' Gillespie wrote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

SAVOR SUMMER, SKIP THE TOXINS: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PLUMBING MAKES THE CASE FOR A WHOLE-HOUSE WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM
SAVOR SUMMER, SKIP THE TOXINS: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PLUMBING MAKES THE CASE FOR A WHOLE-HOUSE WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

SAVOR SUMMER, SKIP THE TOXINS: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PLUMBING MAKES THE CASE FOR A WHOLE-HOUSE WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM

COLUMBIA, Md., June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As both temperatures and household water usage begin to rise this summer, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is reminding homeowners that now is the ideal time to install a whole-house water filtration system. These systems deliver clean, great-tasting water straight from every tap while helping reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. By addressing common issues like hard water before peak demand sets in, families can enjoy healthier water, extend the life of their appliances and kick off their summer fresh and clean. "Clean water leads to a carefree summer," said Joseph Wade, vice president of operations at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. "A professionally installed filtration system acts as a barrier to potentially harmful substances while improving taste and protecting appliances from the effects of hard water. It's an investment in your family's well-being and peace of mind." According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average family consumes 300 gallons per day for drinking, cooking, washing clothes, running the dishwasher and taking a shower. Whole-house water filtration systems are designed to treat all the water entering the home. These systems are especially beneficial during summer, when increased water consumption, laundry loads and outdoor activities place a higher demand on plumbing. With consumer financing options available and 24/7 online scheduling, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing makes it easy to take advantage of all the benefits of a whole-house water filtration system, including: Better-Tasting, Odor-Free Water: Great for drinking, cooking and bathing. Reduced Exposure to Potentially Harmful Substances: Common impurities found in tap water include Total Trihalomethanes, lead and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – known as "forever chemicals." Installing water filtration systems can help effectively reduce these contaminants from your home's water supply. Appliance Protection: Extend the life of coffee makers, dishwashers and ice machines by reducing mineral buildup and scale that result from hard water. Improved Skin and Hair Health: Soften water that can otherwise cause dryness and irritation. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing provides expert guidance to help customers choose the right filtration system based on their home's unique water profile, household size and budget. Services include professional water testing, system installation and ongoing maintenance to keep systems running efficiently year-round. Whether upgrading an existing setup or installing a new one like the Brita PRO® Water Filtration Systems or Reverse Osmosis systems, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing offers timely, professional solutions to ensure your home's water quality meets the highest standards. Contact your local Benjamin Franklin Plumbing to inquire about available financing options. For more information or to schedule a service appointment, visit or call (844) 323-2156. About Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Founded in 2001, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing currently operates in more than 300 locations across North America. With an emphasis on customer satisfaction, the company's highly trained and licensed plumbers offer a full range of plumbing services that meet the highest industry standards including installation, repair and replacement. The Punctual Plumber is part of Authority Brands, the parent company to leading home service brands across the plumbing, electrical services, residential cleaning, at-home care, swimming pool repair and maintenance, tree care, restoration and pest control services sector. For more information, visit and About Authority BrandsHeadquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Authority Brands' companies include 16 leading home service franchise brands: America's Swimming Pool Company, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, The Cleaning Authority, Color World Painting, DoodyCalls, DRYmedic Restoration Services, Homewatch CareGivers, The Junkluggers, Lawn Squad, Mister Sparky, Monster Tree Service, Mosquito Squad, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Screenmobile, STOP Restoration, and Woofie's. Together, these brands provide home services through more than 2,000 territories operated by more than 1,000 franchise owners. Authority Brands is dedicated to supporting individual franchise owner growth by providing strong marketing, technology, and operational support. See for more information. Contact:Emily Muller Fish 919 954-893-9150 emuller@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Sign in to access your portfolio

As Fluoride Bans Spread, Who Will Be Hit the Hardest?
As Fluoride Bans Spread, Who Will Be Hit the Hardest?

Time​ Magazine

time4 days ago

  • Time​ Magazine

As Fluoride Bans Spread, Who Will Be Hit the Hardest?

Cavities and dental costs are at risk of skyrocketing as a growing number of states consider banning the use of fluoride in public water —and children from low-income households are likely most vulnerable. In March, Utah became the first state to prohibit adding fluoride to drinking water. A couple months later, Florida followed suit. Several other states are now considering similar bills. In a recent study published in JAMA Health Forum, researchers projected what would happen if the entire country were to stop adding fluoride to the water supply. The potential impact on both people's oral health and their dental bills was substantial: Tooth decay, the study found, would increase by about 7.5%—representing about 25 million more cavities—and the U.S. would face about $9.8 billion in additional costs over five years, including both what families would have to pay out-of-pocket for dental care and what the government would need to pay for public health insurance. And those impacts would disproportionately affect children on public insurance plans or without insurance, the researchers found. Fluoridated water is 'an amazing public health intervention that comes straight from the tap,' says the senior author of the study, Dr. Lisa Simon, an internal medicine physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital, who is also a general dentist. 'Fluoride works for everyone—it benefits adults, it benefits children,' Simon says. 'But the people who derive the most benefit from it are people who have a harder time accessing routine dental care.' 'Unfortunately, in our country, that is more likely to be children and families who are low-income, who rely on public insurance, or who otherwise face challenges in getting to a dentist,' she says. States' moves to ban the use of fluoride in public drinking water come as the Trump Administration—due in large part to the influence of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—has pushed back against the practice. Kennedy has long blasted water fluoridation, claiming it is linked to arthritis, bone cancer, IQ loss, and more, and signaled that HHS will stop recommending it. The Environmental Protection Agency has said that it is studying the potential health risks of fluoride, and the Food and Drug Administration said it is taking steps to remove prescription ingestible fluoride supplements for children from the market. Some research suggests that fluoride could be associated with lower IQ scores, but only at significantly high levels of exposure—the amount of fluoride that is added to public water, based on federal guidelines, is far lower. And the majority of public health experts, pediatricians, and dentists insist that water fluoridation is a long-standing practice that is both safe and effective at protecting oral health and fighting cavities and tooth decay. 'It's been touted to be one of the most successful or greatest public health initiatives, right up there with vaccinations,' says Dr. Tomitra Latimer, a pediatrician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. U.S. localities started adding fluoride to public water in 1945, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has credited the public health initiative for the 'dramatic decline in cavities' in the country in the years since. According to the CDC, drinking fluoridated water reduces cavities by roughly 25% in both children and adults. Tooth decay, though preventable, is one of the most common childhood diseases. And children of color, children who come from low-income households, children on public insurance plans that limit which providers they can see, and children who live in rural areas and have to travel long distances to access care—all of them are at greater risk of developing cavities, according to Latimer. Children with autism also tend to have a heightened risk of developing cavities because they may struggle with brushing their teeth regularly, she says. While there are alternative sources of fluoride that people can purchase, the cost may be out of reach for many families, Latimer says. That's why, she says, fluoridated water is so critical: It's an easily accessible tool that can help protect the oral health of children who are most vulnerable to cavities. And for generations, it's flowed straight from the tap.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store