MARCH 24, 2026

The boil water advisory in place for a large portion of Dubuque has been lifted/cancelled following negative test results for the presence of bacteria.

Water customers may return to normal water use. If water is cloudy and does not clear after allowing the water to run for several minutes, contact the City of Dubuque Water Department at 563.589.4291.

Background: The City issued a precautionary boil water advisory for a large portion of southern Dubuque on Sunday, March 22. A water main break on Indian Ridge, combined with a temporary, construction-related water main shut down in the area, resulted in a brief loss of pressure in the area’s water distribution system.

Since the advisory was issued, water quality samples were taken from the water distribution system in the advisory area to determine the absence or presence of bacteria. Two consecutive test results have shown no evidence of bacteria. As a result, the advisory is being cancelled/lifted.

“We understand that this precautionary advisory was a significant inconvenience for customers in the impacted area,” said Water Department Manager Christopher Lester. “We take our responsibility to provide safe water very seriously and we appreciate everyone’s patience with this process to ensure the safety of our water.”

All residents are encouraged to visit Alert.Iowa.gov to register for emergency notifications, like boil water advisories, with AlertIowa. Residents can choose to receive emails, text messages, phone calls, app notifications, or a combination of these options. If you have already signed up for Alert Iowa, please check that your profile is up to date to make sure you receive relevant alerts.