Boil Advisories and Broken Trust: The Fallout from Alexandria Indiana Water Failures

In Alexandria, Indiana, what started as a routine boil advisory has evolved into a full-blown crisis of public trust. Alarming evidence has surfaced showing that chlorine levels in the town’s drinking water have fallen far below the legal minimum—raising fears of contamination and public health risks. Residents are now wondering whether Alexandria Indiana Water is just the tip of the iceberg in a deeper failure of city leadership and oversight.

The crisis gained urgency after a local child was hospitalized, reportedly due to exposure to E. coli-contaminated water. Independent testing by residents, followed by official confirmation from IDEM, revealed that chlorine levels in some homes were as low as 0.029 ppm—well beneath the 0.2 ppm required for safe disinfection. In a video that quickly went viral, an IDEM official was recorded reading 0.09 ppm from the tap of a home that had already tested positive for E. coli.

Despite mounting evidence and growing panic, Mayor Todd Naselroad publicly stated on July 25 that the water was “safe and drinkable.” That comment has only intensified outrage. Residents accuse city officials of downplaying the severity of the issue and withholding critical information about the state of Alexandria Indiana Water.

Leading the push for answers is the activist group Concerned Citizens of Alexandria. In a formal press release issued on July 30, they outlined a series of demands, including:

• Full release of chlorine level logs and test results

• A state-led audit of water department operations and finances

• Leadership changes within the Alexandria Indiana Water Department

“This is about more than poor water quality,” the group stated. “It’s about deception, poor management, and the cost of inaction.”

But it’s not just the water quality that’s under scrutiny. The city’s financial practices have also come into question. While the infrastructure project at the heart of the water system overhaul was priced at $1.05 million, the city spent over $2.3 million on what it labeled “planning and oversight.” Documents suggest these funds were split among multiple departments, prompting accusations of mismanagement and a lack of fiscal transparency.

The citizens' group has compiled a comprehensive dossier containing test results, internal communications, engineering contracts, and video footage—all of which are now available online. Their message is clear: if city leaders won’t step up, the people will.

Meanwhile, residents continue to buy bottled water, boil what comes from the tap, and voice their frustrations at city meetings and online. Many feel betrayed by leaders they once trusted, especially as more evidence surfaces and no meaningful response is offered.

The Alexandria water crisis is no longer just a health emergency—it’s a civic reckoning. Until transparency is restored, audits are conducted, and safe practices are guaranteed, Alexandria Indiana Water will remain a cautionary tale of what happens when a city stops listening to its citizens.