Press Release: School open Monday in Boston

BOSTON -- The following is an excerpt of a press release from Mayor Menino, announcing that Boston Public Schools will be open Monday despite the 'boil-water' order.  

"Today, the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority updated Mayor Menino and the City of Boston on the current situation regarding the water main break in Weston. At this time the water emergency is still in effect, and all residents should continue to boil all drinking water and also continue to conserve non-essential water use.

Mayor Menino announced today that Boston Public Schools will be open tomorrow as usual. The vast majority (80%) of our schools already use bottled water for drinking, and bottled water will be available at the remaining schools, as well. All of our schools will be receiving pre-packaged meals that can be heated and served without the use of water so breakfast and lunch will be served as normal. The BPS will be ensuring that all food service providers have adequate amounts of bottled water for sanitary purposes and will continue to work with our partners at the state level to bring water to our schools if we are in need of more supply. The Superintendent, Carol Johnson, will contact all Boston Public School Parents with following message this evening:

CONNECT-ED CALL:

“Hello, I’m calling from the Boston Public Schools Superintendent’s Office to inform you that all Boston Public Schools will be open tomorrow and we look forward to seeing your child in class. We will have pre-packaged meals ready to serve and extra bottled water on hand. If you have any questions, please call the Mayor’s 24-hour hotline at 617-635-4500. That hotline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Thank you, we look forward to a productive day at all of our schools tomorrow. Have a good night.”

The City’s emergency response operations continue, and the Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) are mobilized to assist in the provision of emergency water to organizations with vulnerable populations. Provisions will be supplied to targeted institutions that do not have enough boiling capacity such as hospitals, schools, and shelters.

Mayor Menino reminds Boston restaurants and residents that the first solution is boiling the water. Tap water is safe to drink after it has been boiled for over a minute. Restaurants can remain open and must boil water rapidly for one minute before using it for cooking or drinking.

Boston residents and businesses are reminded about the following:

Restaurants:

- Do not use any ice made after the boil alert was issued yesterday evening until further notice. Drain and sanitize all ice machines.

- You may wash dishes with a dish washer if it is set to a high temperature or using a chemical disinfectant

- You should serve only bottled water for drinking or water that has been boiled for at least a full minute

- For food preparation, you should only use water that has been boiled for at least one minute or bottled.

- Do not use any automated beverage dispenser which has water as one of the options.

Households:

- The MWRA has issued a boil water order for all households in the city of Boston.

- Water must be boiling for at least one minute before it is safe to drink.

- Do not use any tap water for cooking, baby formula, tooth-brushing, or food preparation that has not been boiled first, or is not bottled.

- Please check on elderly or vulnerable neighbors.

- Please avoid any unnecessary use of water (car washing, yard watering)

- Showering and bathing is safe, but you are advised to close your mouth and not consume any water.

Boston residents with concerns should call the Mayor’s 24-Hour Hotline at (617) 635-4500 which will have extra staff on hand to help assist with questions. The Mayor’s hotline has already fielded 5,000 calls since the Boil Water Order was issued. Additional information is also available on cityofboston.gov.

At this time, the MWRA is estimating the boil water order will be in effect “for days, but not weeks.” Working with state agencies, the City will continue to monitor the situation and alert the public with further information."

(Copyright (c) City of Boston. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)