A decision to lift or continue a boil water advisory in center city and southwest Reading could come as early as 4 a.m. Wednesday when results of tests on water samples are revealed, a Reading Area Water Authority official said Tuesday.
If two water samples taken from the system Tuesday show no problems, the advisory could be lifted quickly, perhaps between 4 and 6 a.m. Wednesday morning, said Kim Mazur, the authority’s director of operations and maintenance.
The advisory covers center city from Walnut Street south to Canal Street, and from Second Street east to Eighth Street.
About 2,000 customers are affected.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection requires at least two clean samples before lifting a boil water advisory.
The DEP has told the authority that it could lift the advisory once it receives the results at 4 a.m., said Mazur.
The Ugly Oyster, a downtown restaurant and tavern, was closed Tuesday because of the advisory, but could reopen Wednesday if the advisory is lifted around dawn, said owner Glenn Rigg.
"If everything’s clear, that’s plenty of time for us to be open," said Rigg, who closed the restaurant around lunchtime Monday when he learned of the advisory.
Contact Jim Lewis: 610-371-5059 or jlewis@readingeagle.com.
Jim Lewis | Reporter Follow Jim