Boil water advisory lifted for about 95K Pennsylvania American Water customers

UPDATE NOON MONDAY: The boil advisory has been lifted for the Washington and Allegheny counties.

UPDATE 11 P.M. SUNDAY: The Elrama Volunteer Fire Co. says that Pennsylvania American Water has started restoring service for residents left without water.

Those customers may experience low pressure as the system is brought back to full operation, the company says.

UPDATE 4 P.M. SUNDAY: Pennsylvania American Water reports that the first round of water quality test results has come back negative for bacterial contamination.

Another negative test is required for the advisory to be lifted. Samples have been collected, and an update will follow late Monday morning, the utility says.

Repairs in Elrama are expected to be complete Sunday evening.

Customers are advised to continue boiling their water until further notice.

ORIGINAL COVERAGE: Approximately 95,000 Pennsylvania American Water customers are under a boil water advisory.

According to the water company, a power surge early Saturday morning caused a depletion of storage at a tank near the Aldrich Water Treatment Plant in Elrama, Washington County.

This resulted in a loss of positive pressure within the distribution system, which the water company says signals the existence of conditions that could allow contamination to enter the distribution system.

As a result, Pennsylvania American Water is issuing a boil water advisory for around 95,000 customers in Allegheny and Washington counties.

Per State Rep. Andrew Kuzma, around 90 homes are also without service after a 48-inch main water line break in front of the Elrama Volunteer Fire Company.

Officials are working to organize water buffaloes for those impacted.

The company will inform its customers when corrective actions have been completed and the water boil advisory lifted.

The impacted communities are as follows:

Allegheny County

Bethel Park
Bridgeville
Clairton
Dravosburg
Elizabeth Township
Elizabeth Borough
Glassport
Jefferson Hills Borough
Liberty Lincoln
North Fayette
South Fayette
South Park
Upper Saint Clair
West Elizabeth

WASHINGTON COUNTY

Amwell
Buffalo
Canonsburg
Canton
Caroll Township
Cecil Township
Chartiers
City of Washington
Claysville
Cross Creek
Donegal Township
East Washington
Fallowfield
Finleyville
Forward Township
Green Hills Borough
Houston
Jefferson
Monongahela
Mount Pleasant
New Eagle
North Franklin
North Strabane
Nottingham
Peters Township
Somerset Township
South Franklin
South Strabane
Union Township
West Middletown

While under this advisory, all water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least a minute, then cooled, before using.

Pennsylvania American Water says impacted customers should use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and food preparation until further notice.

Still, the company says guardians of infants and young children and people at increased risk, such as pregnant women, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems, should seek advice from their health care advisors about drinking this water.

Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms, like bacteria, viruses and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea and associated headaches.

If you experience any of these symptoms persistently, Pennsylvania American Water suggests seeking medical advice.

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