Another boil water advisory issued for southwest Columbia neighborhood

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A southwest Columbia neighborhood is under its fourth boil water advisory in the past two weeks.

Columbia Water and Light issued an advisory Wednesday morning for the Thornbrook neighborhood, citing a drop in water pressure for the second time this week. The advisory is in effect until 11 a.m. Thursday.

The city issued a similar advisory on Monday after a water pressure drop and on Tuesday asked people who live there to observe a lawn irrigating schedule.

Some residents have questioned whether infrastructure in the area is adequate to handle the demand.

Last year, Columbia Water & Light shared that water pressure was low in the area, leading to a precautionary boil water advisory. In 2017, the city said residents in the southwest part of Columbia should preserve water to avoid a boil water advisory. In 2016, Thornbrook and Steeplechase were under boil water advisories for low water pressure.

Notice: Because of high water demand in the Thornbrook neighborhood, the pressure has dropped below required thresholds in the water main that serves the area. The City has issued a precautionary boil advisory. This is a new incident and is not an extension of Monday's advisory.

— Columbia Water&Light (@CoMoWaterLight) June 28, 2023

The Thornbrook subdivision has a history of water issues. ABC 17 News documented several boil water advisories issued for the area dating back to 2016.

Each of these advisories through the years was during the summer. Mid-Missouri is currently in a state of extreme drought, creating more demand for thirsty lawns.

Those under the advisory should boil water for 3 minutes before cooking or drinking; not consume ice from an ice maker; disinfect dishes and food contact surfaces by immersing them for a minute in clean tap water with a teaspoon of unscented bleach per gallon of water.