Do Not Drink Order Rescinded for City of Sylvia, Reno County
Summary
KDHE has rescinded a Do Not Drink Order for the City of Sylvia public water supply system in Reno County following laboratory testing that found no evidence of bacteriological contamination. The original order was issued due to a loss of pressure from a water line break that could have allowed bacterial contamination. However, KDHE continues to warn that elevated nitrates remain in the well water, and customers should not give the water to infants under six months of age or boil the water, as boiling concentrates nitrates instead of reducing them.
“Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die.”
About this source
GovPing monitors Kansas KDHE Health News for new healthcare & life sciences regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 23 changes logged to date.
What changed
The Do Not Drink Order originally issued for the City of Sylvia public water supply system has been rescinded after laboratory testing confirmed no bacteriological contamination and all conditions that placed the system at risk were resolved. KDHE officials determined the water is safe for adults and children over six months to drink, and tap water may be used to flush toilets. However, the rescission comes with continued health advisories: elevated nitrates in the well water mean infants under six months must not consume the tap water, and boiling the water is explicitly prohibited because nitrates cannot be reduced by boiling, freezing, filtering, or settling, and excessive boiling actually concentrates nitrates as water evaporates.
Food establishments and restaurants with questions about how the former Do Not Drink Order affects their operations may contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture's food safety and lodging program. Consumers with questions can reach the City of Sylvia water system at 620-486-2472 or KDHE at 785-296-5514. Limited bottled water is being supplied at 120 S. Main for those in need.
What to do next
- DO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS
- DO NOT BOIL THE WATER
- Water, juice, and formula for children under six months of age should not be prepared with tap water
Archived snapshot
Apr 25, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Do Not Drink Order Rescinded for the City of Sylvia, Reno County
Press Releases Posted on April 24, 2026
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a Do Not Drink Order for the City of Sylvia public water supply system located in Reno County. The order was issued because of a loss of pressure in the distribution system due to a water line break. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Laboratory testing of drinking water samples collected from the City of Sylvia public water supply system indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of bacteriological contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.
Due to continued elevated nitrates in the well water, KDHE is still advising customers of city of Sylvia to not boil their water, as nitrate levels cannot be reduced by boiling, freezing, filtering, or letting water settle. Excessive boiling can concentrate the nitrates as water evaporates.
Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
- DO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS. Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die.
- Water, juice, and formula for children under six months of age should not be prepared with tap water. Bottled water or other water low in nitrates should be used for infants until further notice.
- DO NOT BOIL THE WATER. Boiling, freezing, filtering, or letting water stand does not reduce the nitrate level. Excessive boiling can make the nitrates more concentrated, because nitrates remain behind when the water evaporates.
- Adults and children older than six months can drink the tap water (nitrate is a concern for infants because they cannot process nitrates in the same way adults can). However, if you are pregnant or have specific health concerns, you may wish to consult your doctor.
- Tap water may be used to flush toilets. Limited bottled water is being supplied by the system at 120 S. Main for those in need.
For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 620-486-2472, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage: kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruption
Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the Do Not Drink Order on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at [email protected] or call 785-564-6767.
Related News
Press Releases Posted on April 24, 2026 | Last Updated on April 24, 2026
- ### Boil Water Advisory Rescinded for the City of Uniontown, Bourbon County
Press Releases Posted on April 24, 2026 | Last Updated on April 24, 2026
- ### Safe Kids Day at the Zoo Kicks off Safe Kids Month in Kansas
Press Releases Posted on April 23, 2026
- ### Boil Water Advisory Rescinded for Bourbon Co RWD 2C, Bourbon County
Press Releases Posted on April 23, 2026 | Last Updated on April 23, 2026
- ### Boil Water Advisory Rescinded for the City of Fort Scott, Bourbon County
Press Releases Posted on April 21, 2026 | Last Updated on April 21, 2026
Related changes
Get daily alerts for Kansas KDHE Health News
Daily digest delivered to your inbox.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
About this page
Every important government, regulator, and court update from around the world. One place. Real-time. Free. Our mission
Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from KDHE.
The summary, classification, recommended actions, deadlines, and penalty information are AI-generated from the original text and may contain errors. Always verify against the source document.
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when Kansas KDHE Health News publishes new changes.
Subscribed!
Optional. Filters your digest to exactly the updates that matter to you.