Gov. Butch Otter (R) has signed a disaster declaration for a north-central Idaho town that’s been without a public water system since last month.
White Bird’s public water system is fed by two wells, but the system failed in late November.
The system lost pressure, cutting off water completely. The Idaho Office of Emergency Management says state environmental officials are helping to locate the source of the problem.
Any water that does come out of the tap needs to be boiled, according to officials, in order to drink it, brush their teeth, wash dishes or clean their food.
The Idaho County Free Press reports the city placed portable toilets across town and is supplying the 76 people hooked into the system with both potable and non-potable water.
It’s unclear when clean water access will be completely restored.
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