KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — The Cabarrus Health Alliance announced that E. coli has been detected in the water system, prompting an immediate boil water notice for all customers who receive Kannapolis water.
City officials confirmed on Saturday morning that the advisory is still in place. Officials said those affected by the advisory will be provided free bottles of water at 1401 Bethpage Road beginning at 9 a.m.
Because of the contamination, health officials suspended operations for all restaurants and food service establishments that served the affected water system on Friday evening.
They also issued safety guidance to hospitals, nursing homes, long‑term care facilities, tattoo establishments, and other regulated sites to ensure proper precautions are in place.
Kannapolis City Schools dismissed students early after the advisory was issued for the area.
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Later, city leaders announced that some neighborhoods using Concord‑supplied water have been confirmed safe, and residents in those blue‑shaded areas on the city’s map may resume normal water use immediately.
The boil water notice, however, remains in effect for all other Kannapolis customers still connected to the affected system.
The city has completed flushing the water lines and has taken samples from around the city to analyze and confirm that there are no longer any contaminants.
Officials said they do not have a timeline for when the advisory will be lifted, but that they will notify the public when it is.
In downtown Kannapolis, signs taped to storefronts told customers the same thing: closed until further notice. For small businesses, the sudden shutdown is a major blow.
At Old Armor Beer Company, owner Stefan Perrine kept his doors open, but only because his brewery has access to sanitized, scalding hot water used in the brewing process.
“Small towns rely on our Friday and Saturday night crowds,” Perrine said. “Anybody with a kitchen or bar had to shut down. That’s really going to hurt them.”
Perrine shut down his food truck but continued serving beer. He showed Channel 9 the massive tank of near‑boiling water his team uses for sanitation water that’s now being used nonstop. He’s even sharing it with neighboring businesses trying to stay afloat.
While businesses scrambled, residents lined up at the Kannapolis Fire Department on Floyd Street, where the city handed out free bottled water.
“We use water every single day for every single thing,” said Billizah Connor, who picked up several cases. “I had just gotten out of the shower when I saw the post on Facebook.”
Others rushed to grocery stores, filling carts with bottled water as shelves emptied.
Even the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers had to adjust. Friday night’s game went on as scheduled, but no hot food could be served.
Drinks had to be pre‑bottled or canned, and portable hand‑washing stations were brought in from Charlotte to keep fans safe.
Perrine said the community is tight‑knit and the impact is widespread.
“Everyone who owns the restaurants around here is our family and friends,” he said. “I’m hoping they can figure this out.”
For anyone still affected by the boil water advisory, the city will hold another bottled water distribution event Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Kannapolis Public Works Facility, 1401 Bethpage Road.
This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.