Residents in Stratford, Oklahoma are under a boil order, following the discovery of E. coli in the town's water supply. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, who issued the advisory on Friday, has instructed locals to boil tap water for at least one minute or to use bottled alternatives for drinking, cooking, and hygiene purposes,  according to the Oklahoman.

KXII reports that this precautionary measure also applies to food preparation, dishwashing and brushing teeth in the wake of the bacterial contamination. Department of Environmental Quality officials have committed to informing the community when, the water is deemed safe once more.

Federal law mandates that the public be notified of potential hazards in their water, as cited by OKC Fox. The Department of Environmental Quality, has indeed issued this boil order to align with such requirements, and aims to safeguard residents until contamination levels recede to safe thresholds. Updates and the full notice can be found on their official website, providing ongoing guidance to the citizens of Stratford.