Dec. 20—Junction City water treatment plant is running normally, after its electric, which has been flooded, was replaced.

Water samples are being taken and delivered for testing as of Tuesday, City Manager Allen Dinkel reported.

The Geary County Emergency Operation Center held a meeting this morning at 8:30 a.m. with the City of Junction City, Grandview Plaza, Fort Riley, Geary Community Hospital, Junction City and Rural Fire, and other Geary County Officials in attendance to update everyone on the water supply for the City of Junction City, Grandview Plaza, and Rural Water District #1.

Water levels are nearing normal operational levels within the system across the city, with most tanks being within a few feet of normal operational levels. All households that receive their water from the Junction City Water Treatment Plant should have running water within their households at this point.

While houses have running water, residents should take note that a Boil Advisory remains in effect until the water within the system has been tested by the state and deemed safe for consumption. At this point, the Boil Advisory is scheduled to remain in effect through Tuesday, but this could change depending on the test results.

All business and industrial facilities are cleared to reopen, including car washes and laundry mats.

The no-burn order remains in effect for the County through Thursday, Dec. 23. This includes fire pits and burn piles for storm debris.

There have been many questions about the water now that households have running water again. Refer to the following Q & A section:

Q. What is the Status of the water system repairs?

A. Crews have got pumps working at the water treatment facility and the system is nearing normal operational levels. All residents should have water within their households now.

Q. What is a boil water advisory?

A. In the United States, our drinking water supply is normally safe. Yet diseases that spread through water remain a very real problem. If something has happened that could allow the water supply to become contaminated, a boil water advisory may be issued. There are a variety of reasons for such an advisory. For instance, there may have been a water line break, flooding, or intentional or unintentional contamination of the water supply. When a boil water advisory is issued, the following precautions should be taken:

—Boil water vigorously for 1 minute before using it. Boiling it longer than 3 minutes may adversely affect water quality and taste.

—Use only bottled or boiled water for drinking, diluting fruit juices, and all other food preparation.

—If non-potable water (water from the affected water supply) is used for handwashing, bare-hand contact with any food is prohibited. (Normally bare-hand contact is only prohibited for ready-to-eat foods). This includes any ice made by automatic ice makers. This ice will contain contaminants and should be disposed of. Ice from automatic ice makers will not be safe for consumption until the boil order has been lifted.

—Dispose of ice cubes, and do not use ice from an automatic icemaker. Remake ice cubes with water that has been boiled or purchase bagged ice from an area not under advisory. Flush the icemaker water line after the advisory is lifted.

—Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersing them for at least 1 minute in clean tap water that contains 1 teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.

—Stop using fountain pop machines connected to a contaminated public water supply. Please monitor media outlets for notification about when the advisory is lifted.

Once an advisory or order is lifted, typically at least 24 hours after issuance of the advisory or order, you will need to take additional steps before resuming normal operations.

Q. When will the Boil Order be lifted?

A. Currently the boil order will remain in effect through Tuesday, December 22nd. We will update residents when the water in the system is safe for consumption. Residents are encouraged to follow local law enforcement and emergency management social media pages and pay attention to local news outlets for these updates.

Q. What is the current level of the water Towers? Have the filled?

A. The water towers and underground storages have not been fully filled at this time, but they are within a couple of feet of normal operational levels. It is expected that these facilities will reach normal operational levels by the end of the day (Dec. 20).

Q. Are residents able to begin doing laundry and other non-essential water-related activities?

A. Yes! Residents can do non-essential water-related tasks such as washing dishes, washing clothes, washing cars, etc.

Q. Has the current water supply been tested for contamination? If so how bad is the current contamination?

A. The water is currently being tested by the state to determine when water will be safe for consumption. At this point, the boil order remains in effect. Residents are to refrain from consuming water they get from the tap. This includes ice produced in automatic ice makers. This ice should be thrown out and not consumed until the boil order has been lifted.

Q. Do I need to clean out my faucets?

A. Yes. You should flush your faucets after the drinking water advisory.

* Turn on the main water valve.

* Turn on the cold water tap at all faucets and run the water until you feel a change in temperature (i.e. the water gets noticeably colder). This may take several minutes. Begin with the faucet that is highest up in your home or building and then open the other faucets one at a time moving from the highest floor to the lowest.

Q. Do I need to clean appliances?

A. Yes. Read the owner's manual for directions to clean appliances such as water softeners and filter units.

Q. The water is discolored. What should I do?

A. Flush water pipes by running the water until it is clear. Do not wash clothes if the water is discolored. Wait until the water runs clear at the tap. Wash a load of dark clothes first.

A planning session with leaders from the EOC, GCH Medical Staff, City and County representatives, as well as Geary Community Hospital Administrative/Maintenance staff was held yesterday at 1 p.m.

GCH inpatient and outpatient services are now available. Staff are implementing processes to facilitate quality service to their patients. Staff advise people to contact their primary care physician's office if they have questions about appointments.

GCH is calling in staff to bring surgeries and OB procedures to include delivery of babies back online.

Once the hospital has staff in place, it will begin to accept patients for admission to the facility in the Medical/Surgical and ICU departments. GCH leaders will coordinate directly with EMS to provide guidance on bring additional patients to the Emergency Department.

Clinics opened this morning at 8 a.m. This includes all Rural Health Clinics, Alpha Care and the Wound Care Center. Lab and radiology services will also be available for normal appointments. The area remains under a boil water advisory, but the staff will provide the safest care possible under current conditions. Regular entrances to the facility are staffed and open.

"We wish to thank the entire Junction City community for your patience during this crisis situation and a special thanks goes to our partners at the EOC, City, County, Fire Department, and Public Works for their dedication during past few days. Finally, state and federal procedures require us to conduct additional testing of the facility's water even after the city gives the all clear. However, we don't believe these restrictions will impact services to our patients," Ashley King, communications director said. "We will use bottled water for consumption and take additional precautions when caring for patients. Again, we apologize for any inconvenience over the past few days and want you to recognize that Geary Community Hospital's primary goal is to 'provide progressive healthcare with hometown compassion.'"

Starting Jan. 1, a new law means egg shells, banana peels, leftover pasta and other food scraps can no longer go in with the rest of the trash.

In a sealed room, would snake plants keep you alive? Study doesn’t say that

Oaks and other forest tree species do occasionally produce enormous amounts of seeds. This is called “masting” or a “mast event.”

Historic weather is sweeping through parts of Canada and temperatures are plummeting below -50°C.

In Northern California, 29 inches of snow fell over a 24-hour period ending Sunday morning.

A 70-mile stretch of Interstate 80 in California has been shut down due extreme winter weather, with forecasters warning that travel could be difficult for the next few days.

The victim was spotted by a female surfer who was able to help him to shore. He was pronounced dead on the scene by officials.

It could take two weeks to fix the broken line.

Stuttgart, Arkansas is a duck hunting mecca, the premier waterfowling destination in country even during a dry year like this one.

"If you do not need to be out and about today, please stay home," the Washoe County Sheriff's Office said.

Bitterly cold temperatures will descend on the Prairies over the next couple of days. Heavy snow will spread over parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba through Monday.

Ventura County will get a bit of reprieve from rain but locals should prepare to bundle up for another storm arrives Monday and brings cold with it.

Snow came too late in Los Angeles County to count as a white Christmas, but it fell in time in Seattle — and it continued to fall until it covered the ground

A white Christmas arrived after all for parts of the western United States.

Thirty-one-year-old man, who appeared to be a bodyboarder, pronounced dead in San Luis Obispo county San Luis Obispo county officials were still in the process of contacting next of kin before they released the man’s identity. Photograph: David Middlecamp/AP California authorities have closed some beaches in San Luis Obispo County after a 31-year-old man was pronounced dead following an encounter with a shark on Friday. The fatality marked the first death in a shark attack in 18 years in the are

Canada's first underground garden grew hundreds of metres below ground in what used to be a mine shaft in Nova Scotia.

Colorado and the Rocky Mountains could see a severely shortened ski season by 2050, with some areas closing permanently by the end of the century.

Colder temperatures and periods of snow will cause slick roads at times

"Do not travel if you don't need to," officials warn.

But will it snow in Fresno for the first time in more than 20 years?