The Water Treatment Division operates and maintains the City's 20 MGD treatment plant, 4 elevated water storage tanks, 1 reservoir and 2 pumping stations. The treatment process, which includes lime softening, dual media filtering, and chlorination and fluoridation, supplies a high quality, finished water that is unsurpassed in the region. The division provides an average of 8.3 million gallons of safe drinking water to its residents each day.
Water Boil Advisory "What is a Boil Advisory?" When a water main break or other situation occurs in which any portion of our water system experiences a loss of pressure below 20 PSI, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) recommends that a Boil Advisory be issued to all affected customers within 24 hours of the occurrence. As soon as the affected area is identified, the notification procedure begins.
Please keep in mind that although boil advisories can be inconvenient, they are a safeguard for you. The majority of boil advisories issued are lifted within 26-36 hours. The City of Middletown is dedicated to keeping our customers informed of any issues that affect the safety of the water system.
"How will I be notified?" In most cases, our maintenance crews go door to door advising each customer that their residence is under a boil advisory. Please check your front door for this information. This tag will tell you the approximate date and time that the advisory will be lifted.
If the affected area is too large to notify with door tags, a series of press releases are immediately prepared and faxed to local newspapers, radio stations, television stations, and the local cable network. All schools within the affected area will also be notified by telephone.
Additionally, phone calls are made to all customers in the area who have been designated "critical water users" such as nursing homes.
"My neighbor got a notice but I didn't." The areas affected by boil advisories are determined by our staff using knowledge of valve locations, pressure zones, and connections to the mains. It is possible to have houses next door, around the corner or across the street affected, while yours is not.
"What should I do if I'm placed under a Boil Advisory?" If you have been notified that you are under a boil advisory, the OEPA recommends that all water used for consumption (food preparation, drinking, brushing your teeth, etc.) be boiled vigorously for at least one minute. Water used for purposes other than consumption (bathing, washing dishes, etc.) does not need to be boiled.
"Should I boil water for my pets?" Animals often consume water containing microorganisms (such as streams or puddles) with no adverse health effects, so it is not necessary to boil the water that you give them. However, if your pet is very young or has a medical condition, you may want to check with your veterinarian to be sure.
Annual Consumer Confidence Report This report explains the quality of drinking water provided by the Treatment Division.