Residents in Mt. Vernon Illinois have been subjected to numerous boil orders throughout this year. There have been twelve in just the second half of 2025 alone. Some have been localized and others have been issued city wide.
A boil order is issued when water directly from the tap should not be used for drinking, brushing your teeth, cooking, or washing fruits and vegetables. Boil orders most commonly arise when the water pressure in municipal distribution lines drops to 20psi or below. It is mandated that a boil order must be issued for a period of at least 24 hours and the quality of the water must be tested for safety before the order is lifted.
The most recent boil order in Mt. Vernon came on October 3rd affecting the 1100 Block of S. 15th Street with an anticipated duration of 48 hours. A city wide boil order was issued in Mt. Vernon on September 16th urging residents to boil their water for at least 5 minutes to prevent harm. Special consideration was asked for schools, nursing homes and hospitals.
City officials have not stated why the problem with the water distribution system persists.
Residents certainly pay substantial property taxes and should expect reliable potable water for routine consumption and hygiene. The city has a working surplus of 22 million dollars according to the latest budget. Leadership has a responsibility to fix this ongoing problem.