UPDATE – 11/8/2026 @ 9:00 p.m.: MoDNR Upgrades Boil Water Advisory to Boil Water Order
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) has upgraded the previously issued Boil Water Advisory to a BOIL WATER ORDER.
What does this mean?
A Boil Water Order does not necessarily mean contamination has been confirmed. However, it means additional precautions and regulatory requirements are necessary to protect public health.
For customers, the precautions remain the same:
•Boil water before drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, preparing food, or making ice.
•Use bottled water as an alternative.
•Continue these precautions until the order is officially lifted.
For the City of West Plains Utilities:
•MoDNR has issued the Boil Water Order and must authorize the order to be lifted.
•Additional water samples and testing are required, and results must be satisfactory before the order can be lifted.
City staff will continue collecting water samples through Tuesday and delivering them to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources State Laboratory in Jefferson City for testing.
As soon as the City receives confirmation from MoDNR that the order can be lifted, the public will be notified.
The Boil Water Order remains in effect until further notice.
Original Post:
CITYWIDE BOIL WATER ADVISORY – November 8, 2026
The City of West Plains Utilities is issuing a citywide Boil Water Advisory for all customers served by the City’s water system, effective immediately and until further notice.
Earlier today, a mechanical failure involving a polymer feed machine at the Water Treatment Plant caused a brief increase in turbidity levels during the water treatment process. Turbidity is a measurement of the cloudiness of water caused by suspended particles and is an important indicator used to monitor drinking water quality.
The issue has been corrected, and turbidity levels have returned to normal operating ranges. However, elevated turbidity can interfere with the effectiveness of the water treatment process. In accordance with Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) requirements, the City is issuing this advisory while additional water quality testing and confirmation are completed.
What should customers do during the advisory?
Until the advisory is officially lifted, customers should take the following precautions:
•Bring water to a rolling boil for 3–5 minutes before using it for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, preparing food, or making ice.
•Allow boiled water to cool before use.
•Use bottled water as an alternative to boiling.
•Discard ice made with unboiled tap water.
•Water may continue to be used for bathing, showering, laundry, and other non-consumption purposes. Take precautions to prevent children from swallowing water while bathing.
Water Quality Testing and Updates
City staff are delivering water samples to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources laboratory in Jefferson City for testing.
Although turbidity levels have returned to normal, the Boil Water Advisory will remain in effect pending confirmation of satisfactory water quality results.
As soon as the City receives confirmation from MoDNR that the water is safe for consumption and the advisory can be lifted, the public will be notified.
The safety and quality of our drinking water remain our highest priorities