Boil Water Alert In Effect After N. Huntingdon Break
WALL BOROUGH (KDKA) - A water conservation notice and boil water alert is in effect for customers in Wall Borough after a water main break yesterday.
According to officials, the break happened along Route 993 in North Huntingdon, Westmoreland County.
Crews using dynamite collapsed a 30-inch line on a hillside, which sent debris down onto the road.
Crews thought they had the line repaired once Wednesday, but the new line sprung a leak. So, the work continues.
"I understand the pipe in the road was 100-years-old, cast iron pipe," said Carl Heller, Jr. of Cleaveland/Price Inc. "and I guess the vibration on the pipe is what caused the leak."
The work was being done by Kesco, an explosive contracting company.
It was part of a project to expand the Cleaveland/Price Plant by clearing out the hillside to expand their facility. The plant was one of the areas that didn't have water Wednesday.
"Bottled water and Porta Potties," said Heller. "It doesn't really affect anything in manufacturing business, except our employees."
Additional repairs are now being made to the line, which is causing service interruptions.
However, water buffaloes and bottled water are available at Route 993 and Fundistown Road and also at the ball field in South Trafford.
The initial estimate said about 4,300 customers would be affected.
There has been progress though.
Route 933 is now back open to traffic; and for most people, water service will be restored before the end of the day. But even then, there will be a boil water order in effect for the next 24 to 48 hours.
The Department of Environmental Protection is handling the investigation into how the explosion affected the water line in the first place, and will make sure the water's ready to drink when the line is completely repaired.
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