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Hundreds urged to boil water after pipe bursts on North Side

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Hundreds urged to boil water after pipe bursts on North Side

The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority is asking about 4,600 North Side households to boil their water after a 16-inch main burst Monday beneath Brighton Road.

That advisory will remain in place until Thursday morning -- at the earliest -- following the break between Woods Run and Harbison avenues. The failure around 2 a.m. led to low water pressure in the area, according to PWSA.

 

About 45 homes on Brighton Road and Harbison Avenue remained without any tap water Monday afternoon, but those should see pressure again by early Tuesday morning, PWSA spokesman Will Pickering said.

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Although the authority restored service before noon Monday for most homes, dips in pressure can let contaminants get into the drinking-water supply, according to the authority. It’s urging affected customers in Brighton Heights and Marshall-Shadeland to run their faucets and then boil tap water vigorously for at least one minute before drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, washing raw foods or supplying water to pets.

Latest lead tests deliver better findings for PWSA
Adam Smeltz
Latest lead tests deliver better findings for PWSA

PWSA posted a map of the affected area through www.pgh2o.com. It's bordered roughly by Ohio River Boulevard to the west, Farragut and Bascom avenues to the northwest, Marshall Avenue and Ridgeland Drive to the south, and Highwood Cemetery and Riverview Park to the east.

Additionally, customers who aren’t sure whether they have lead pipes or solder should flush their lines for at least a minute before boiling, PWSA said. It called the steps a precaution.

"We have no water quality testing that leads us to believe there is contamination," Mr. Pickering said. For affected customers in need, water buffaloes are available at Brighton Road and Woods Run Avenue, at 1519 Orchlee Ave. and at 2384 Central Ave., according to the authority.

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PWSA said it’s testing to make certain disinfectant levels are high enough and that water is safe to drink -- a process that takes at least 48 hours under state and local standards. The first test samples were set to be collected early Tuesday, after workers were to complete repairs to the main.

The pipe was installed in 1921, Mr. Pickering said. Any customers in the area who lost service or faced low water pressure Monday should follow the precautionary measures, according to PWSA.

Adam Smeltz: 412-263-2625, asmeltz@post-gazette.com, @asmeltz.

First Published: July 23, 2018, 7:37 p.m.

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