Chaffee water system out of chlorine; boil order issued

CHAFFEE - The Missouri Department of Natural Resources issued a boil order on Tuesday for water customers in the southeast Missouri town of Chaffee after an inspection detected no chlorine in the system.

The order issued on Tuesday will be in effect at least two days. Environmental Section Chief Jack Baker said he was concerned because he didn't know how long the water system had been without chlorine.

Chlorine is added to public water supplies to kill disease-causing bacteria.

Baker was unsure how long it would take to rechlorinate the system, but it will be at least two days.

DNR sent inspectors to Chaffee after complaints about water quality, and after a public works employee was hospitalized last week after being overcome by chlorine gas. He was not seriously hurt.