Union County public schools, offices, and facilities will close Thursday following a citywide boil water advisory in Monroe. The closure includes all athletics, camps, and district activities.
Routine testing found E. coli in the city water system near Monroe Fire Department Station 4. The new emergency advisory now applies to the entire Monroe city water system as a precaution.
The city has isolated the impacted area, flushed the system, and notified the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. Additional testing is underway, and the advisory is expected to be lifted Thursday, August 14.
Residents using city water should boil it for at least one minute before drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, making ice, or giving it to pets. Bottled water is recommended if available.
The Union County Public Health Department has suspended permits for food establishments using Monroe city water unless they have approved emergency water plans.
The closure comes ahead of the school year, with optional teacher workdays starting August 15 and students returning August 25.
