Boil Water Advisory Lifted In Allegheny & Washington Counties
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BETHEL PARK (KDKA) - A Boil Water Advisory, which was affecting 100,000 customers in parts of Allegheny and Washington counties, has been lifted.
With first light came word Pennsylvania American Water's first test for contamination came back clean.
It was welcome news at Nothing Bundt Cake, in Siena at St. Clair, where the boil water advisory was cramping their style.
Owner Hollie Kawecki says, "We've been unable to wash any of our pans. When it came to baking, the majority of our cakes do contain water."
Then, just after noon, Penn American's Melissa Walters announced, "The second test came back clean, which allowed us to lift the boil advisory."
Kawecki and her staff immediately started rising out sinks, doing dishes, and washing the Bundt pans.
"My goodness what a relief," she said.
Next door at Duck Donuts it was not any easier.
Owner Andy Jarusinsky says, "Our core products are made with water. The donuts themselves and our coffee and espresso drinks."
Jarusinsky says they idled the espresso machine and used jugs of water for baking.
Penn American says the problem was the failure of one of the eight filters at its water treatment facility in Elrama.
"You can think of a filter in your house. Sometimes filters get clogged, sometimes they break, they get old," Walters said. "These would not have gotten old, but it's the same idea."
The bad filter has been repaired and the other seven checked out and cleared. The water plant is back to normal operations.
For The Porch restaurant, it will take more than turning on the tap to get the bottom line back in order.
Executive Chef Kevin Hermann says, "We did have to close yesterday and for lunch today."
Hermann says they could make and serve food using bottled water, but were unable to run their dish machine or do any cleaning. So, word that the boil advisory was being lifted this afternoon brought relief.
Hermann says, "It was great. The weight was lifted, and we've taken every precaution necessary, and we're super excited to be open and serving again."
As for helping any of the restaurants recoup their losses, Walters says, "We certainly feel the pain and the inconvenience of all our customers and the restaurants and the restaurant owners, so that's something we'll certainly explore."
While many restaurants in the boil water zone are relieved to have the water back, one is facing a citation from the Allegheny County Health Department.
Health officials cited the Papa John's pizza shop on Library Road in Bethel Park for using the contaminated water during the advisory. Inspectors say the pizza shop did not have safe water for preparing food, washing hands or washing dishes.
It has since been re-inspected and allowed to open.
The "all clear" means there is no further concern about possible contamination, but anyone still concerned can run their taps for a bit and throw out any ice cubes made by an ice maker during the boil advisory period.
KDKA's Lisa Washington Reports --
The affected areas included:
Allegheny County
- Bethel Park
- Clairton
- Dravosburg
- Elizabeth Township
- Elizabeth Borough
- Glassport
- Jefferson Hills Borough
- Liberty
- Lincoln
- South Fayette
- South Park
- Upper Saint Clair
- West Elizabeth
Washington County
- Amwell
- Avella
- Buffalo
- Burgettstown
- Canton
- Canonsburg
- Caroll Township
- Cecil Township
- Chartiers
- City of Washington
- Claysville
- Cross Creek
- Donegal Township
- East Washington
- Fallowfield
- Finleyville
- Frankfort Springs
- Forward Township
- Green Hills Borough
- Independence
- Hanover
- Hopewell
- Houston
- Jefferson
- McDonald
- Midway
- Monongahela
- Mount Pleasant
- New Eagle
- North Franklin
- North Strabane
- Nottingham
- Peters Township
- Robinson Township
- Smith Township
- Somerset Township
- South Franklin
- South Strabane
- Union Township
- West Middletow
