PERRY COUNTY, Mo. — A second water-related problem in less than a week has led to a boil water advisory for customers served by a Perry County water system, raising concerns about reliability and communication.
According to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the issue started Saturday, April 11, when a pipe fitting blew off inside the SK&M Water and Sewer Company pump house. The failure caused water storage levels to drop, resulting in a loss of pressure for some customers.
The department said it did not receive notification of the issue until Monday morning, April 13.
“The Department of Natural Resources was made aware of the most recent water outage this morning, April 13, 2026,” the agency said in a statement.
As a result, the water system issued a precautionary boil water advisory Monday, urging residents to boil water before use until further notice.
State officials say public water systems must notify the department within 24 hours, or the next business day, after a low-pressure event.
“A public water system is required to notify the department within 24 hours (or the next business day) any time it experiences a low water pressure event below 20 psi,” the department said.
When a boil water advisory is issued, systems are expected to take reasonable steps to inform customers.
“This often involves radio, television, and social media notifications, written postings in public places, or door-to-door notification if the number of affected customers is small,” the department said.
According to the department, customers in the Shakertown area received notice of the latest advisory through Facebook, local radio, and written postings.
The incident follows another issue just days earlier. On April 6, the system issued a boil water advisory after a lightning strike damaged an electrical component. Officials lifted that advisory April 9 after water samples tested safe.
The Department of Natural Resources says low water pressure events can threaten water quality, and officials issue boil advisories as a precaution. They lift advisories only after confirming water samples are safe.
Records show the water system has faced compliance issues in the past. During its most recent inspection in May 2023, inspectors found the system in non-compliance for failing to maintain required documentation. Officials issued a follow-up letter in August 2023 after the system did not provide the requested records.
A review of state records also shows the system has several outstanding monitoring and public notice violations over the past two years. The department says it has also addressed two drinking water concerns at the system during that time.
The Department of Natural Resources says customers experiencing issues or concerns can contact its Southeast Regional Office at 573-840-9750 to report any concerns or low-pressure events.
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