Boil Advisory Lifted for SE Cedar Rapids on Saturday

City repairs water main break, issues all-clear after testing

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:45pm

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting depicting a flooded urban environment, with the silhouettes of submerged buildings and infrastructure barely visible beneath the expansive, turbulent floodwaters.As floodwaters rise, a community's infrastructure is dwarfed by the overwhelming power of nature.Cedar Rapids Today

The City of Cedar Rapids has issued a precautionary boil advisory for a large portion of the Southeast Quadrant of the city due to a water main break. Residents in the affected area are advised to boil water before consuming it. The city expects to lift the boil advisory by Saturday afternoon after repairs and additional testing.

Why it matters

Boil advisories are common after water main breaks or other disruptions to the municipal water supply. They are issued as a precaution to ensure the water is safe for drinking, cooking, and bathing, especially for vulnerable populations like pregnant women and infants.

The details

The water main break has caused the closure of the intersection at 32nd Street SE and Mt. Vernon Road, with westbound lanes closed but traffic being maintained in the middle turn lane. The city has repaired the break and conducted an initial round of water sampling and testing. Chlorine levels will be monitored, and additional bacteria samples will be collected for analysis before the boil advisory can be lifted.

  • The boil advisory was issued on April 17, 2026.
  • The city expects to lift the boil advisory by Saturday afternoon.

The players

City of Cedar Rapids

The local municipal government responsible for managing the city's water infrastructure and issuing public advisories.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Boil advisories are a common occurrence after water main breaks or other disruptions to the municipal water supply, and they are issued as a precaution to ensure the water is safe for drinking, cooking, and bathing, especially for vulnerable populations like pregnant women and infants.