Water-boil advisory remains in effect in Statesville
Originally posted on July 28, 2016
City of Statesville residents will likely need to boil water needed for consumption through at least 3 p.m. today due to Wednesday’s water main break.
The break occurred on a 24-inch pipe about 3 a.m. near the water treatment plant on Pump Station Road. Most Statesville water customers were without water for several hours, and city officials advised residents to use bottled water or boil tap water needed for consumption.
A new valve was installed at the site by mid-morning, and by 1:30 p.m. the pressure built back up enough for workers to collect samples to send for testing, according to City of Statesville Water Resources Assistant Director Jerry Byerly.
Those results are expected back by 2:30 p.m. today and at that point the city will re-assess the advisory, Byerly said.
The advisory continued even after the water flow was restored because “periods of low or no pressure in the distribution system increases the potential for back siphonage and introduction of bacteria into the water system,” according to the city’s website.
The situation created issues for residents and some area businesses, particularly restaurants.
Clay Helms, manager at Charanda at 1841 E. Broad St., estimated he uses about 300 gallons of water a day for his restaurant.
He decided not to open Charanda on Wednesday, and estimated his losses at between $1,500 and $1,650.
“It has crippled us,” he said.
Diane’s Court Street Café in downtown Statesville was open Wednesday morning despite the lack of water.
Owner Diane Bragau noticed the problem as soon as she opened around 5:30 a.m., and she immediately starting melting ice and boiling it, she said.
South Statesville resident Chris Bentley, 31, said his wife told him about the water issues about 4:30 a.m.
“She came in and was like, ‘we have a big problem,’” he said. Shortly after, he realized it would create an issue feeding his 10-month-old daughter, who drinks powdered formula.
“Thankfully she hasn’t woken up yet,” Bentley said around 8:30 a.m.
When his water started to flow again, it was dark brown. The color returned to normal after about 20 minutes, but he planned to boil water as long as necessary, he said. When Shameka Caldwell learned of the water problems, she and her three children walked to the Dollar General on Shelton Avenue to buy water and other groceries.
She planned to use the water for drinking and brushing teeth, she said. She also purchased gallon jugs to deliver to a few people she knew needed it. Throughout the day, updates were provided on the city’s website at statesvillenc.net. The city closed the leisure pool at 1877 Simonton Road, and the Iredell County Courthouse was also closed.
City workers delivered bottled water to the Iredell Council on Aging nutrition site late Wednesday morning, and set up other distribution sites later in the day at the city’s four fire department locations, the police department and Fifth Street Ministries.
Statesville Public Affairs Director Nancy Davis said the bottled water would be available for residents who can’t boil their own until 10 p.m. Wednesday.
TIPS FOR WATER CUSTOMERS
· Once the water boiling advisory has been lifted, let your sink, shower and other faucets run for a few minutes to clear the lines. A good way to tell is to fill a white cup or mug so you can easily see if the water is clear.
· It’s safe during the advisory period to take showers and do other activities that don’t involve water consumption. If the water appears cloudy let it run to clear out the line, particularly for washing clothes.
· If you plan to boil water, do so for at least a minute to kill any potential disease-causing organisms · The boiling advisory does not affect customers of the Iredell Water Corporation.
· For updates on the advisory, visit www.statesvillenc.net.