KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Kannapolis City Schools are dismissing students early after a boil water advisory was issued for the area.
Kannapolis Water Resources Department announced Friday morning that they determined that contaminants carrying E. Coli bacteria were found in the city drinking water.
Officials said city’s water processed for cleaning should have eliminated the contaminants and the water should cause no detrimental issues for the public.
In accordance to NC regulations, the city is flushing and treating all water and has asked all residents to boil any drinking water.
Channel 9 saw empty shelves in a Kannapolis Food Lion where bottled water would usually be held.
School officials announced Friday morning that water services to all school sites have been turned off out of an abundance of caution.
All of the schools are being dismissed before noon.
McKnight and Kannapolis Middle Schools were dismissed at 11 a.m. A.L. Brown High School students were dismissed at 11:30 a.m. and all elementary schools were dismissed at noon.
Parents and guardians were asked to prepare for early pick-ups or bus arrival times.
Officials said that staff will stay on site until all students are safely transported off campus.
Channel 9 is hearing that several local restaurants have had to close following the advisory, including Flyin’ Buffalo, Chophouse 101, Town House II, and The Pub.
Several businesses have told Channel 9 that they were not notified by the city that there was a boil water advisory issued. Some businesses have said they found out about the advisory after schools were dismissed and that they struggled to reach city officials by phone.
Officials with Cabarrus County reported that they have had some facilities affected by the Kannapolis water advisory.
Cabarrus County has announced the closure of Vietnam Veterans Park, The Milestone and Cannon Department of Social Services locations, The Kannapolis Public Library Branch, and The Library and Active Living Center at Afton Ridge.
Cabarrus County schools also shut off water at several schools including Royal Oaks School of the Arts, Charles E. Boger Elementary, Winecoff Elementary, Northwest Cabarrus High School, Northwest Cabarrus STEM Middle School, and the Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early College.
The schools have not been closed and bottled water has been made available to students and staff, officials said.
No additional details have been made available.
This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.
WATCH: Fake plastic gun found at Kannapolis Middle School; lockdown lifted
This browser does not support the video element.