By Alicia Banks, originally posted on August 3, 2016

Eastover officials issued a boil advisory Wednesday after a water main broke late Tuesday night.

The spill affected roughly 1,500 customers; most live east of Interstate 95, said Connie Spell, the district manager for Eastover Sanitary District.

Water was restored to all but two customers on Mistletoe Court as of noon Wednesday, Spell said.

The leak is located off Baywood Road near Mistletoe Court. A five-member crew from Envirolink is repairing the 4-inch-wide water main.

“The break has been isolated, and pressure is being restored,” she said. “The water main should be repaired within the next three to four hours.”

Officials notified customers via the town website, text alerts and phone calls, Spell said.

State law requires municipalities to issue boil advisories when leaks occur, noting the water could be exposed to harmful bacteria.

The advisory cautions customers to boil water for a minute, and then let it cool if it’s being used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation, according to the Eastover Sanitary District’s website.

“It’s a precaution until we do additional testing on the water to make sure its absent of any kind of bacteria,” Spell added. “The boil advisory is just for human consumption, and it’s not related to washing clothes or taking a bath.”

Spell said it’s unknown what caused the water main to break.

The boil advisory could last up to 48 hours. Customers will be notified when the advisory has been lifted.