The City of Kimballton in Audubon County has issued a bottled water advisory for its 291 residents until at least Aug. 1 due to elevated levels of manganese in the drinking water. The ongoing construction of an upgraded water treatment plant has led to temporary water contamination with manganese levels measured at 1.77 mg/L, surpassing the health advisory limit of 0.3 mg/L set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA advises against consuming tap water with high manganese concentrations, particularly for infants under six months old, as adverse health effects may be associated with prolonged exposure. Residents are urged to use bottled water or alternative sources for drinking, cooking, and oral hygiene purposes. The advisory does not apply to non-consumptive uses such as bathing. Boiling or filtering the water will not reduce manganese levels. For more information on manganese and its impact on drinking water, follow the link included below.
_______
