UPDATE: Boone Co. boil water advisory lifted

UPDATE 2/19/17 @ 4:28 p.m.

BOONE COUNTY, W. Va. (WSAZ) -- The precautionary boil water advisory has been lifted for West Virginia American Water customers in the Camp Creek and Julian communities.

It comes after a low pressure event, on Friday, allowed backflow from a church bathroom into the local water distribution system.

When this first happened Friday, WVAW issued a 'Do Not Use' notice that was not lifted until Saturday.

The company says results of water quality testing have confirmed that the water quality meets drinking water standards and that customers no longer need to boil their water.

UPDATE 2/18/17 @ 3:39 p.m.

BOONE COUNTY, W. Va. (WSAZ) -- The "Do Not Use" water notice has been lifted for West Virginia American Water customers in the Camp Creek and Julian communities.

WVAW said in a release that a precautionary boil water advisory remains in effect for all customers previously under the "Do Not Use" notice.

That includes about 320 customers on Camp Creek Road, Julian Road, Little Horse Creek, Horse Creek Road, White Road, Betsy Lane, Ferrell Drive, Miller Road, Nancy Dolin Road, Herman Dolin Hollow Road, White Buck Road, Calvin Smith Road, Big Pinnacle Bridge Road, Wash Bridge Road and customers along Rt. 119 from Camp Creek Road to Wash Bridge Road.

WVAW said Friday that a low pressure event allowed backflow into the local water distribution system. The company believes that was caused by blue toilet bowl cleaner backflowing into the local water distribution system from a church bathroom.

WVAW says they have flushed the area, collected multiple samples for testing and all of those samples show no signs of an outside contaminant in the system.

The release says affected customers may resume using their water, but should boil it until further notice. The boil water advisory will remain in effect until at least late Saturday night when testing is complete.

A portable water tanker is still stationed in the parking lot of the Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Diagnostic and Detention Center in Julian. WVAW customers must bring their own containers to fill with water.

Keep checking WSAZ Mobile and WSAZ.com for more updates as they become available.

UPDATE 2/17/17 @ 11:10 p.m.

BOONE COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- William Sutphin says his normal Friday went down the drain when he flushed some funky water down his.

"It was blue," Sutphin said. "Blue as that blue stuff you buy to put in the windshield washer in your car.

Sutphin says he noticed the tint during an early morning bathroom trip.

"I thought, 'My God, what's the matter with the water?'" Sutphin said.

A few hours later, Rex Holstein noticed the issue while pouring water to make coffee preceding a work day at his church in the Camp Creek area of Boone County.

He says he reported the color to West Virginia American Water.

"It was like a green-bluish lookin' color," Holstein said. "I didn't want nobody to get killed or something."

Not long later, a "Do Not Use" water advisory was issued for the Camp Creek and Julian areas. A WVAW spokesperson says the advisory continued through nightfall Friday.

WVAW says the water is not safe for use for any purpose.

"There gotta be something bad wrong with it when you can't boil water," Sutphin said.

WVAW says conditions indicated there is a high probability water in these areas is contaminated with chemicals consistent with toilet bowl cleaner.

WVAW says a low pressure event allowed backflow into the the local water distribution system.

Bottled water or water from another, safe source should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, bathing, watering pets, food, and baby formula preparation and all other purposes until further notice.

WVAW says they are working to mobilize a water tanker to provide potable water for affected customers while the Do Not Use is in place.

A fresh water tanker will be placed at the Donald Kuhn Juvenile Center in Julian.

WVAW says since it's a possible chemical issue it can't be boiled away. The lines have to be flushed. A spokesperson says, in a best-case scenario, water won't be safe for use until Saturday.

The Do Not Use order affects approximately 320 customers in the following area: Camp Creek Road, Julian Road, Little Horse Creek, Horse Creek Road, White Road, Betsy Lane, Ferrell Drive, Miller Road, Nancy Dolin Road, Herman Dolin Hollow Road, White Buck Road, Calvin Smith Road, Big Pinnacle Bridge Road, Wash Bridge Road and customers along Route 119 from Camp Creek Road to Wash Bridge Road. The affected area includes the Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center, Massey office building and several convenience stores.

ORIGINAL STORY 2/17/17 @ 3 p.m.

BOONE COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- West Virginia American Water says they have received notice of a cross-contamination event in Boone County.

According to a release, the event is in the communities of Camp Creek and Julian.

WVAW says conditions indicated there is a high probability water in these areas is contaminated.

WVAW says no test has occurred to confirm or deny contamination.

A backflow event has occurred in the area suspected to be from blue toilet bowl cleaner from a bathroom that back flowed into the the local water distribution system.

According to release, it is not safe to use the water for any purpose.

Bottled water or water from another, safe source should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, bathing, food and baby formula preparation and all other purposes until further notice.

WVAW says they are working to mobilize a water tanker to provide potable water for affected customers while the Do Not Use is in place.

A fresh water tanker will be placed at the Donald Kuhn Juvenile Center in Julian.

WVAW says since it's a possible chemical issue it can't be boiled away. The lines have to be flushed.