In response to low chlorine levels at the water treatment plant, the City of Topeka issued a precautionary boil water advisory on Sunday morning. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has since expanded the advisory to include two more water supplies.

The City of Topeka took this step as a safety measure to ensure the well-being of its residents. The advisory was extended to include the Metro Topeka Airport Authority and Shawnee County Rural Water District 1C public water systems, as they purchase their water from the City of Topeka.

A spokesperson for the city stated that any other rural water systems in Shawnee County should directly contact their respective water districts for guidance. These districts may be able to implement additional pre-treatment measures before the water is distributed.

The city has attributed the low chlorine levels and potential bacterial contamination risk to the combination of reduced water levels and extreme weather conditions, which have put strain on the system. It is suspected that these factors may have caused the chemical doses to fall outside of the required levels.

Residents of Topeka and Shawnee County who are customers of the City of Topeka's water supply are advised to take precautions, including boiling water before consumption or using bottled water for drinking, cooking, and oral hygiene purposes.

City officials are actively working to mitigate the issue and provide a resolution. An update on the situation is scheduled to be provided by the city at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The boil water advisories for Topeka and the two additional water systems will remain in effect until laboratory testing confirms the safety of the water supply, as indicated by KDHE.