The boil water order for Libby has been lifted.

The announcement came from city Administrator Sam Sikes Friday afternoon.

The order went into effect Dec. 11, 2025, following catastrophic flooding and subsequent water treatment plant difficulties that affected the city’s water system.

Officials are still urging people with severely compromised immune systems, infants and some elderly that may be at increased risk to seek advice from their health care providers about drinking water.

General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available on EPA's website at epa.gov/safewater.

“Since the onset of the emergency, numerous actions have taken place which allow the Boil Water Advisory to be downgraded to a Health Advisory,” Sikes said in an email. “Due to the introduction of high turbidity water into the distribution system, contaminants could have been introduced into the distribution system.

“This is not an emergency and as our customers, you have a right to know what is happening, what you should do and what we are doing to correct this situation.” 

Sikes said in an effort to protect public health, the city is issuing a precautionary Health Advisory while workers continue to flush the distribution system. 

“Water system personnel are working diligently to complete the flushing process,” Sikes said. Once flushing is complete, bacteriological samples will be taken to ensure the water served is still meeting the standards.” 

For city water customers, Sikes explained what to look for and what is being done.

• Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea and associated headaches. These symptoms are not only caused by organisms in drinking water. For those who experience any of these symptoms and if they persist, they may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.

• A comprehensive directional flushing protocol will be implemented, and then bacteriological samples will be collected from the distribution system. 

• Water system personnel are closely monitoring the situation and will update users if anything changes.

Sikes also provided an update on the lower reservoir that breached during last month's flood.

"The dewatering is going well with the addition of the extra pumps," Sikes said in an email. "The dewatering is allowing us to identify just how extensive the damage is to the lower reservoir facility. The northern wingwall that was compromised by the flood due to water running over the top and through cracks in the concrete apron. Well, water is now being expelled from the northern wingwall, exactly the opposite as we could expect. 

"That shows that water is migrating under the concrete apron to the point of least obstruction, out the cracks. Our contracted dam certified engineer and state DNRC dam safety have been contacted and we will be keeping a close eye on it," Sikes said. 

Sikes said when Montana Fish, Wildife and Parks officials toured the site, they told him the largest recorded event for our Flower Creek drainage was in 1974 at 709 cubic feet per second of water. The measurements for the 2025 event that hit our lower reservoir was estimated to be more than double at 1,600 cubic feet per second.

"We are a long way from being done with the lower reservoir to restore it back to operational condition," Sikes reported. "Once the water is removed, the sedimentation will be taken out and hauled to the city pit to be used in reclamation of our open cut mine. Also, we will be constructing a main coffer dam to last through the spring and into the summer when the northern retaining wall can either be repaired or replaced."

He also expressed his appreciation to local residents and government staff as well as agencies for their patience and work to put things back together.

"We really appreciate everyone’s patience with the boil order, it shows just how resilient the people of Libby really are," Sikes said. "I can’t help but to take a second to thank those who are making this happen behind the scenes. To all the “lettered” local, state and federal agencies like the Montana Department of Emergency Services, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and county Emergency Management Agency, city and county staff, elected officials and to our local contractor Noble Excavation and the crews, we are very thankful for your efforts."

For more information, contact Sikes at 406-293-1278 or the Health Department at 406-283-2442.