AVOCA, Iowa — Regional Water issued a Level Red water restriction advisory just days after issuing a boil advisory across several southwest Iowa counties.

Regional Water, based in Avoca, Iowa, issued the boil advisory on May 10. Regional Water has service connections across Shelby, and portions of Pottawattamie, Harrison, Audubon, and Cass Counties. This does not include the Urban Bluffs area. 

The advisory was placed due to depressurization in their water towers, causing a risk of bacteria. Residents were encouraged to use boiled water or bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, and food preparation.

On Wednesday, Pottawattamie County notified residents that the Regional Water Rural Water Association (RWRWA) had issued a Level Red advisory for those served by the Avoca Treatment Plant. This is an escalation, as a yellow alert was placed by RWRWA on April 18, 2025.

Pottawattamie County says more than half of Avoca residents were without water service on Wednesday and says additional outages are likely. The advisory was put in place due to continued drought conditions and below-average rainfall. Water sources are operating at less than 60% capacity according to Pottawattamie County.

Effective immediately, the following restrictions are in place: 

• No outdoor watering of lawns, gardens, or landscapes. 
• No washing of vehicles, driveways, sidewalks, or buildings. 
• No filling or refilling of swimming pools, hot tubs, or ornamental fountains. 
• Restaurants may only serve water upon request. 
• Lodging facilities must offer guests the option to reuse linens and towels. 
• All leaks must be repaired within 48 hours of detection. 
• Water use for construction purposes is restricted to essential activities only. 

Residents in the area are also encouraged to take shorter showers, turn off taps while brushing teeth and only run the dishwasher and washing machines with full loads.

Neither the boil advisory nor the mandatory water rationing has an expected end date. To learn more about the boil advisory, water restriction, or ongoing outages, contact the RWRWA office at 712-343-2413.