A water outage is scheduled for Friday from 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m. for homes and businesses along the corridor of Highway 11 between the intersection of Highway 43 North and Lakeshore Drive. This outage is expected due to work to move utility lines for the Highway 11 expansion project.

Residents and businesses affected by the outage have already been notified, said Public Works Director Eric Morris. If the outage schedule changes in any way, the city will notify affected consumers, Morris said.

Morris said he does not anticipate future scheduled water outages because of the utility work on Highway 11. Unforeseen water outages do sometimes happen, Morris said, but public works has taken measures to minimize interruptions during the relocation of utility lines.

Once the work is completed, a boil water notice will be in effect, Morris said. Water that is going to be consumed should be boiled for one minute, Morris said. The boil water notice does not apply to activities like brushing teeth or washing hands, only to water that is going to be ingested, Morris said.

The boil water notice is not expected to last more than 72 hours and residents in the affected area will be notified when the notice is activated and lifted via door hangers.

Boil water notices are mandated by the Mississippi State Health Department any time a water main is open to the outside environment because of the possibility that bacteria could enter the line, Morris said. Crews will work to ensure the opening in the water main will be for the shortest amount of time possible, Morris said.