Boil order lifted

PEA RIDGE — Local restaurants bought water, didn’t serve carbonated beverages from the dispensers and one even closed during the nearly three days a boil water order was in effect in Pea Ridge from Tuesday morning until shortly after 1 p.m. Friday.

A sign on the doorway at Sonic announced that it was closed due to the boil water order.

A sign at McDonalds’ announced some beverages could not be sold.

Employees from both restaurants declined to comment.

When the order was lifted, a Sonic employee stood out front of the restaurant with a sign announcing the business was open again.

After a precautionary boil order was issued to the community of Pea Ridge including Big Sugar Golf Course and It’ll Do Road,residents can replenish their thirst now that the wait is over.

Ken Hayes, Water Department superintendent, said the boil order was issued to prevent the chance of contamination in the water.

“There was a chance, even if it was small, that the water could have contaminates such as dirt or silt,” he said.

Water Department employees took water samples June 6 hoping the results would come in by the following day to restore wateruse in the area.

According to Hayes, restaurants cannot provide food or drink that includes water.

“In situations such as this we encourage people to boil water for one minute before using it,” he said.

Local businesses such as the White Oak Station placed “Out of Order” signs on their fountain drink machines due to the boil order.

Joe Bangs, owner of the Blackhawk Grill, bought gallons of distilled water from the grocery store in order to serve customers.

“When people asked for water we just had to give them distilled,” he said.

The gallons of water that Bangs purchased were alsoused to make tea and lemonade.

Due to the boil order, restaurants were not able to make ice or use water that was not boiled.

“I’m sure the restaurants were ready for this to be over,” Hayes said.

The last boil order was issued in 2005-2006 during construction.

“Anytime construction is going on around us, someone’s going to hit a water line,” Hayes said.

Employees from Southwest Electric Power Company punctured a four-inch water line while setting an anchor for a utility pole on the north side of the Intermediate School property adjacent to Pike Street Tuesday, July 5.