The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has advised the Sardis Lake Water Authority, located in Pushmataha County, and the Talihina Public Water Authority (PWA), located in LeFlore County, to inform residents and users of the drinking water to use water that has been brought to a full, rolling boil for at least one minute, bottled water, or water from another acceptable source for consumption, use in food preparation, dishwashing and brushing teeth. This order was issued due to the presence of E. coli.

The following water systems purchase water from the Sardis Lake and/or Talihina Water Authority, and therefore are also under the boil order:

• Latimer Co. RWD #2
• Pushmataha Co. RWD #1
• COE Sardis Lake Potatoe Hills
• Clayton PWA
• COE Sardis Lake – Sardis Cove
• Pusmataha Co. RWD #5
• Oklahoma Veterans Center
• Latimer Co. RWD #3
• Kiamichi Baptist Assembly
• LeFlore Co. RWD #3
• Pushmataha Co. RWD #2

Please note that the boil order is only for the Sardis Lake Water Authority, the Talihina Water Authority, and the water systems that purchase water from those systems. The boil order does not include many areas of Pushmataha, LeFlore, and Latimer Counties. If a water customer is unsure which water system supplies their water, the customer should check their water bill.

Residents will be notified when the water is considered safe for human consumption. Federal law requires that consumers be notified when a public water supply exceeds certain maximum contaminant levels and might be harmful to the health of consumers.

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