Washington County Health Department

07/20/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 20, 2026

Contact: Jill Bronaugh
[email protected]

Boil Water Advisory Issued for the City of Haddam, Washington County

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the City of Haddam public water supply system located in Washington County.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. People with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
The advisory took effect on July 20, 2026, and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

For consumer questions, please contact the water system at: 785-541-1031, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service

Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at [email protected] or call 785-564-6767.

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When a public water supply system experiences a disruption in service there are precautions that consumers may need to take during and after the incident.

11/21/2025

10/13/2025

Flu Clinic October 23rd, 2025!!!! We will be out in the parking lots of each visit site!!!

09/30/2025

A tornado can:
• Happen anytime and anywhere.
• Bring intense winds, over 200 miles per hour.
• Look like funnels.
Prepare for a tornado by knowing the signs of a tornado and knowing your safe shelter place.
And for more information visit https://www.ready.gov/tornadoes

09/29/2025

When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!
Thunderstorms are common and can be dangerous. They can bring intense wind, flash flooding, hail and dangerous lightning.
Know your area’s risk for thunderstorms and create an emergency plan so you and your family know what to do in case of a thunderstorm. One preventative step you can take is to trim the trees around your home. Consider buying surge protectors for your home as well.
And for more information visit https://www.ready.gov/thunderstorms-lightning

09/26/2025

Winter storms create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart attacks from overexertion. Winter storms including blizzards can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice and high winds.
A winter storm can:
-Last a few hours or several days.
-Cut off heat, power and communication services.
-Put older adults, children, sick individuals and pets at greater risk.
IF YOU ARE UNDER A WINTER STORM WARNING, FIND SHELTER RIGHT AWAY
And for more information visit https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather

09/25/2025

It's that time of year!

Flu Shots available

Monday September 29, 2025

Come on into the Washington County Health Department and get yours!

09/23/2025

It's National Preparedness Month! ️
This September, let's not forget about being prepared online! Cybersecurity threats are just as important as having a disaster plan.
Here are some easy tips:
• Strong Passwords: Use unique and complex passwords & consider a password manager.
• Multi-Factor Authentication: Add an extra layer of security with MFA whenever possible.
• Think Before You Click: Don't open suspicious emails or click on unknown links.
• Back Up Your Data: Regularly back up important files to protect against ransomware.
By taking these simple steps, you can be better prepared for the unexpected online threats.
What are your best cybersecurity practices? Share them in the comments!
And for more information visit https://www.ready.gov/cybersecurity

09/19/2025

Falls are a common cause of injuries at home. The Centers for Disease Control reports that one out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury including traumatic brain injuries.
While anyone is at risk for injury from a fall, older adults have a higher risk of death from this common accident. Each year, 3 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries.
And for more information visit https://www.ready.gov/preventing-falls-home

09/16/2025

Store all medications, whether prescription or OTC safely where children cannot reach them with locks to cabinet door.
Always keep medications in original containers. if using a dosing tray, be sure it is safely locked out of children’s reach.
Discard expired mediation appropriately. Use drug disposal bags or take back to pharmacy for disposal.
Never flush expired medication down toilet or down sink drain.
Contact poison control or local emergency room is you ever suspect a child swallowed any medication on accident.