Main break in East End spurs alert to boil water

manager at PWSA.

The break may have impacted water pressure and quality in these eight neighborhoods: Bloomfield, Central Lawrenceville, East Liberty, Friendship, Garfield, Highland Park, Morningside and Shadyside.

The boil advisory affects approximately 7,000 homes and is expected to last at least until Tuesday evening, Mr. Pickering said.

Residents should boil tap water vigorously for at least one minute prior to using the water for cooking, drinking, brushing teeth, washing raw foods or giving water to pets.

“The major concern is that when the pressure drops there is an opportunity for bacteria to enter the void in the pipe, should there be a hole in the pipe,” Mr. Pickering said. “When there is high pressure, there is no opportunity for pathogens to enter the pipe.”

PWSA employees are testing the area’s water to ensure it is safe, Mr. Pickering said, and so far all of the tested water has been adequately disinfected. The earliest that testing could conclude would be Tuesday evening, he said.

Crews began to repair the water main break Sunday and will continue Monday, he said.

Some areas of Centre Avenue have no water, he said, including two large apartment buildings and several commercial facilities. PWSA has placed water tanks at the intersections of Centre and South Negley avenues, as well as at Centre and Euclid avenues, he said.

Anyone without running water can take water from those tanks.

PWSA will make additional efforts on Monday to bring potable water to various locations in the boil advisory area for anyone who is unable to boil their water, Mr. Pickering said.