News Release 566

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES PRAISES
LAKE OZARK OFFICIALS, URGES BOIL ORDER EXTENSION

Volume 34-566

Contact: Victoria Lovejoy

(For immediate release)

417-891-4380

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, DEC. 29, 2006 -- The Missouri Department Natural Resources today praised Lake Ozark city officials, who on Thursday announced a precautionary boil order for city water recipients, and encouraged continuation of the order throughout this weekend.

"City officials took an important first step in making sure Lake Ozark residents have a safe water supply," said Jim Macy, director of the department's Field Services Division. "While it may seem inconvenient to have to boil water over a holiday weekend, unfortunately, we do not have enough test results to safely lift the order. The prudent thing to do is to continue the order until all of the test results are back next week."

An inspection of the city's south water tower on Wednesday found bird feathers and grassy materials in an overflow pipe. Further inspection found a hatch on the tower's roof to be open. After conferring with drinking water specialists from the department's Southwest Regional Office, city officials quickly moved to issue a precautionary boil order.

Testing of water samples from the tower and repair of tower mean that it is likely that the tower will not be brought back on line until mid-week. In the meantime the neighboring Osage Beach system is providing water to Lake Ozark.

Department officials say the precautions are necessary because of the potential health hazard birds present to water supplies. In November 1993, seven people died and 550 were seriously sickened in Giddeon, Mo., from illnesses traced back to bird-contaminated water.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

###