The city of Oxford is currently under a boil-water advisory following the detection of contamination in the municipal water supply.

The Mississippi State Department of Health has issued the advisory impacting approximately 14,650 customers in Lafayette County, as announced by Oxford Utilities on Dec. 7. Residents are advised to boil water for a minimum of one minute before using it for drinking, cooking or any other form of consumption.

The health alert was triggered by a compromised water sample. The city of Oxford is actively re-sampling the water, with tests slated for Dec. 7 and 8. The public will be notified when the advisory is lifted, tentatively set for Dec. 9, pending water safety verification.

Key points for residents during the boil-water advisory include the following:

• All tap water used for consumption should be boiled as a precaution.
• Drinking directly from taps, public fountains or any buildings receiving water from the affected supply is strictly prohibited.
• Ice made from tap water should not be used, and residents are advised against preparing beverages like coffee with tap water.

For essential water usage, the following measures are recommended:

• Sanitize dishes with boiled or bottled water.
• Cleanse fruits and vegetables with boiled or bottled water to eliminate any exposure to bacteria.
• Continue regular handwashing and bathing practices, ensuring no water is ingested.

The Oxford Eagle will continue to provide updates to the community as new information becomes available. The health department reassures that activities such as swimming in chlorinated pools are safe and that pets or fish in aquariums are not at risk.

Residents are urged to follow these temporary safety measures until the water supply is deemed safe.