Update (9/1/11):
BRISTOL — Bristol residents who use the municipal water system were told to boil their water Sunday after officials became aware that flooding may have contaminated a part of the system.
Bristol water users were told to boil their water for five minutes before consuming it until further notice. Officials hoped to rescind the order as early as Wednesday, but at press time the order was still in effect.
The order was issued after officials suspected the New Haven River, swollen by rains from Tropical Storm Irene, inundated the water system’s “spring box,” possibly penetrating the “contact tank” where chlorine is introduced to the town’s water. As a precaution, the entire system was being flushed out and sterilized early this week. This process could take several days and requires three consecutive clean tests before the order can be dropped.
“There was no indication that there was definitely river water in the drinking water system,” said Lance Perlee, who oversees Bristol’s water system for the water management firm Simon Operation Services. 
“To err on the side of caution we issued the boil water alert,” he said. Residents were thus asked to boil their drinking water for five minutes before consuming it.
Water to homes is flowing from the town reservoir, and officials are requesting residents to conserve water.
“We ask people to conserve. Go light on the laundry, short on the shower. Don’t water your gardens. Don’t wash your cars,” said Town Administrator Bill Bryant, who wants to prevent the town’s reservoir from running dry.
In a best-case scenario, the water system would have been up and running and the boil water order dropped on Wednesday. Worst-case scenario: The system will be down until next week, and Bristol residents will be asked to continue boiling and conserving water.
BRISTOL — A boil water order was issued by the town of Bristol on Sunday for all residents who use water from the municipal water system. They should continue to boil their water for five minutes before consuming it until further notice. The order was issued after the New Haven River potentially inundated the water system’s “spring box,” possibly penetrating the “contact tank” where chlorine is introduced to the town’s water. As a precaution, the entire system is being flushed out and sterilized. This process could take several days and requires three consecutive clean tests before the order can be dropped. “There was no indication that there was definitely river water in the drinking water system,” said Lance Perlee, who oversees Bristol’s water system for the water management firm Simon Operation Services. “To err on the side of caution we issued the boil water alert,” he said. Residents are thus asked to boil their drinking water for five minutes before consuming it. Water to homes is currently flowing from the town reservoir, and officials are requesting residents to conserve water. “We ask people to conserve. Go light on the laundry, short on the shower. Don’t water your gardens. Don’t wash your cars,” said Town Administrator Bill Bryant, who wants to prevent the town’s reservoir from running dry. In a best-case scenario, the water system will be up and running and the boil water order will be dropped on Wednesday. Worst-case scenario: The system will be down until next week, and Bristol residents will be asked to continue boiling and conserving water.