Pocono News Section

Water Main Break Near Carbondale

Water Main Break Near Carbondale - Monday, December 3, 2007 at 11:00AM EST

Reported by: Mark Hiller
Monday, Dec 3, 2007 @11:00am EST
CARBONDALE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- A water main break near Carbondale has forced Pennsylvania American Water to issue a boil advisory for parts of Northern Lackawanna County. Customers who lost water service should boil their water before consuming it.

The break happened just before 7:00 this morning in a water transmission line off Route 6 near the Brownell Water Treatment Plan. It affects about 3,000 customers in Carbondale City, Carbondale Township, Whites Crossing and Simpson. In those areas some customers may experience dirty water, low water pressure, or no water while repairs are being made.

Because of the break, the Fell Charter School will be dismissing early at 1PM.

Water tankers are set up this afternoon at Main and Morris in Simpson, Honesdale and Number 7 Road in Simpson, the Harrison Avenue Nursing Home in Carbondale and at the Marian Hospital in Carbondale.

According to the water company, Childs, Jermyn and Mayfield are NOT affected.

For more, please see the information below from Pennsylvania American Water Company:

WHY THE NEED TO BOIL?
The advisory is being issued due to a reported loss of water service. If water loss occurs in an area where disease-causing organisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites) are present, there is a possibility they may enter the distribution system through back-flow or back-siphonage and can cause flu-like symptoms. Although no risk conditions have been identified to confirm possible contamination at this time, Pennsylvania American Water advises those customers impacted to boil their water as a precaution.

WHAT SHOULD I DO?
? If you only had "low pressure" and did not completely lose water service - there is No Need To Boil.
? If you are unsure that a complete loss of water service occurred, you should follow the guidelines below.

CUSTOMERS WHO LOST WATER SERVICE SHOULD BOIL THEIR WATER BEFORE CONSUMPTION. Once water service is restored, bring water to a rolling boil for one minute, and let it cool before using; or use bottled water. Customers are also advised to use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further notice. Customers will be notified when all corrective actions have been completed and there is no longer a need to boil water.

People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk, and can seek additional advice from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 (800) 426-4791.

To ease inconvenience, water tankers will be available at a nearby location to be determined. Customers are asked to please bring their own containers when visiting a tanker for drinking water.

The media will be contacted when the boil advisory is lifted. This information will also be provided on Pennsylvania American Water's website at , under the "Spotlight" section, select Important Customer Alerts.

For more information, contact Pennsylvania American Water's customer service center at (800) 565-7292.