A major water main break Sunday in the East End may have contaminated drinking water in eight Pittsburgh neighborhoods — and residents should boil their water as a precaution, according to the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.
The 20-inch water main break was reported around 7 a.m. and was pinpointed to the intersection of Centre and South Negley avenues around 10:30 a.m., said Will Pickering, communications manager at PWSA.
The boil advisory affects approximately 7,000 homes and is expected to last at least until Tuesday evening, Mr. Pickering said.
“The major concern is that when the pressure drops there is an opportunity for bacteria to enter the void in the pipe, should there be a hole in the pipe,” Mr. Pickering said.
“When there is high pressure, there is no opportunity for pathogens to enter the pipe.” PWSA employees are testing the area’s water to ensure it is safe, Mr. Pickering said, and so far all of the tested water has been adequately disinfected.
The earliest that testing could conclude would be Tuesday evening, he said.
Crews began to repair the water main break Sunday and will continue Monday, he said.
Some areas of Centre Avenue have no water, he said, including two large apartment buildings and several commercial facilities.
PWSA has placed water tanks at the intersections of Centre and South Negley avenues, as well as at Centre and Euclid avenues, he said.
Shelly Bradbury: 412-263-1999, sbradbury@post-gazette.com or follow @ShellyBradbury.