MCCAMMON — Residents in a portion of McCammon who lost water pressure Thursday remain under a boil order Friday as the city waits for laboratory results that could take up to 48 hours to return.

Water samples were collected and delivered to a lab at 8 a.m. Friday, according to an update posted to the city’s website. Results are expected within 24 to 48 hours. Once available, the city said it will post updates on mccammoncity.com, its Facebook page and the city sign.

Residents with questions can also call 208-254-3200; a recorded message directs callers to the city’s website for the latest information.

The boil order was issued Thursday evening after a routine water line repair caused a loss of pressure significant enough to raise contamination concerns. City Clerk Kassadi Dunn said workers made the call to shut off valves preemptively while finishing the repair after worrying the line might blow and contaminate the entire system.

“The guys were doing just a regular water repair today, and it got to the point where they were nervous enough that the line might blow and contaminate the entire system,” Dunn said. “So they made the quick call to just start shutting off some of the valves while they finished up with that repair.”

The precautionary shutdown left some homes without water entirely and caused pressure drops in others. Under state and federal water safety guidelines, a drop below 20 psi in a distribution system can allow contaminants to enter the line, triggering mandatory boil order protocols.

“Unfortunately, because we can’t guarantee whether or not that drop in pressure was below 20 psi, we’re forced to throw out notices for everyone who was connected to that line,” Dunn said.

The Bannock County Sheriff’s Office issued an alert around 5 p.m. Thursday citing a directive from Mayor Karlene Hall. The city also posted a map to its Facebook page showing affected addresses highlighted in pink and magenta, covering a significant portion of McCammon’s residential street grid.

Until the order is lifted, residents whose addresses appear on the city’s map should bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before drinking, cooking, making ice or brushing teeth.

Updates will be added as the boil order status changes. Check mccammoncity.com or idahostatejournal.com for the latest.