Ellis County Health Department

08/28/2026

Attn: Ellis Co RWD 1C public water supply system, Ellis County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 28, 2026

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the Ellis Co RWD 1C public water supply system located in Ellis County.
Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
•Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
•Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
•If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
•Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
•Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.

The advisory took effect on August 28, 2026 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory. For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 785-628-2186, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service
Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at [email protected] or call 785-564-6767.
Contact: Jill Bronaugh [email protected]

08/25/2026

🦇 Bats: Beneficial, but Best Admired from a Distance!

Bats may not be everyone’s favorite nighttime visitor, but they play an important role in our environment. They help control insect populations, including mosquitoes, and are an important part of Kansas’ ecosystem. 🌙

At the same time, bats are wild animals and one of the natural carriers of rabies, a deadly disease that can affect people, pets and livestock. Here's the tricky part...you can’t tell by looking at a bat whether it carries rabies, and bat bites can be tiny and difficult to notice.

The safest approach is simply to give bats their space. Never handle a bat with bare hands, teach children not to touch them, and keep pets away.

Let’s appreciate bats for the important job they do while keeping our families, pets and bats safe. 🦇
🔗Bats in Kansas: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/2467/Bats-in-Kansas
🔗Learn more about bats: https://www.batcon.org/about-bats/bats-101/

08/24/2026

📇Save the date and set your alarm!⏰ Flu vaccine will be available soon. We'll keep you posted!
Why wait?
For most people who need only one dose of influenza vaccine, vaccination should ideally be offered in September and October. Early vaccination has been associated with some decline in antibody levels and decreased vaccine effectiveness before the end of the influenza season, particularly in older adults. Click below for more information:
https://www.vaccineinformation.org/diseases/influenza/

08/17/2026

08/17/2026

Why do we have a specific Childhood Immunization Schedule?

Children’s immune systems begin learning from the moment they are born. The recommended childhood immunization schedule is designed to help protect children when they are most vulnerable to serious diseases, not because they need “more” protection, but because they need protection at the right time.
Every vaccine on the childhood immunization schedule has a purpose. Some protect against different diseases soon after they are received, while others build stronger, longer-lasting protection over time. The schedule is based on decades of research about when children are most vulnerable and when vaccines provide the greatest benefit. Click through below to learn why vaccines are recommended early in life and how the schedule helps children grow up healthy.

Give us a call at 785-628-9440 to schedule an appointment or to talk to one of our nurses for more information.

08/10/2026

Mark your calendars for one of our favorite events!!

08/10/2026

The new school year brings new faces, new routines, and the first fire drill.

For many classrooms, one of the first safety routines students will practice is a fire drill.

Learn Not to Burn® provides educators with free lesson plans and activities to help students understand what a fire drill is, why it's important, and how to respond safely.

Download the free lesson plans here: https://sparkyschoolhouse.org/resource/learn-not-to-burn/

08/10/2026

🥵Did you know that extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the US and in Kansas?
Heat-related illnesses include heat rash, sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

☀️☀️PREVENT heat-related illness:
💧Stay hydrated. Drink fluids before you feel thirsty and check your urine – if it's dark you need to drink more fluids. Avoid dehydrating fluids like alcohol, coffee and sugary drinks.
🆒 Stay in air-conditioned spaces as much as possible.
🏃‍♂️‍➡️Pace outdoor physical activity and schedule heavy labor or exercise early morning or evening, if possible.
🍉Eat lighter meals.
👵🏽Check on the vulnerable, e.g., the elderly, the very young, the disabled and the unhoused.
🧴Prevent sunburn.
🚘Never leave anyone in cars.

⭕⭕SYMPTOMS of heat-related illness include:
😵‍💫Feeling faint and dizzy.
🥴Headache.
🤮Nausea and vomiting.
😥Heavy sweating, or no sweating.
😣Muscle cramps.

🩺🩺FIRST AID for heat exhaustion and heat stroke:
🌳Move to a cool and shaded area.
👚Remove as much clothing as possible.
💧Drink liquids if able. Don't give liquids to someone if they are confused.
🌡️Cool quickly by:
💦Bathing in cold water or ice if available.
🫗 Wetting the skin and clothing.
🧊Putting cold, wet cloths and/or ice on head, neck, armpits and groin.
🍃Circulating air.
🔴🚨🚑HEAT STROKE IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY – CALL 911🚨🚑🔴

Heat-related illness: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/heat-stress/about/illnesses.html

What to look for: https://www.cdc.gov/heat-health/about/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fextreme-heat%2Fabout%2Findex.html

08/06/2026

We have a lot to celebrate here in Hays and Ellis County when it comes to supporting our families! Here at ECHD, we celebrate the families, healthcare providers, employers, and community partners who help create a supportive environment for breastfeeding. There are a number of good things available that we'll be highlighting this month. Whether you're expecting, a new parent, or supporting someone on their breastfeeding journey, we're here to connect you with the resources you need. Give us a call anytime! 785-628-9440