Boil water advisory lifted

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Thursday rescinded the boil water advisory for the city of Bronson and Bourbon County Rural Water District No. 4, according to a news release.

KDHE issued the boil water advisories on July 17 and 18, because of a loss of pressure in the water system. Laboratory testing on samples collected indicate no evidence of contamination, and all other conditions that place the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved, the release said.

Bourbon County Emergency Manager Keith Jeffers said possibly 1,000 people were impacted by the advisory.

Now that the advisory has been lifted, Jeffers said, "that means they can drink water and do everything like normal, so they don't have to worry about boiling water."

During these days of 100-plus degree temperatures, Jeffers advises people to drink plenty of water to keep hydrated and check on family members and neighbors to make sure they have adequate cooling.

Those working outdoors should be aware of the heat index and indications of heat-related illness, Jeffers said in an email.

At 8:01 p.m. Thursday, Jeffers said, it was 102 degrees.

National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Kardell in Springfield, Mo., said this area has endured 26 days of temperatures above 90 degrees.

The longest streak was in 1954 when it was above 90 for 46 days. In 1983, the area went 44 days with 90-plus degree temperatures and in 1980, it was a 32-day time frame, Kardell said.

"We'd have to hold here for another week to get into that top three," he said. "I think that's probably likely. Forecasts show that we ... have a very good chance of getting into that top three. ... We're definitely in one of the longer streaks if you want to look at 90 degrees."

The fact that it's summer is one reason it's hot, but Kardell said after a La Nina year, such as there was in 2011, there is a general tendency to have dryer conditions across the southern, southeast and south-central parts of the country.