Official: Boil water advisory for Leechburg area could extend past Saturday

Depending on test results, the earliest a boil water advisory would be lifted for people in the Leechburg area would be Saturday, according to authorities.

The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County issued a precautionary boil water advisory Monday for its customers in Leechburg, West Leechburg, Hyde Park and part of Allegheny Township after a water main break.

Matthew Junker, spokesman for the authority, said a break was reported Sunday afternoon and was repaired, but when it was turned on after the repair, another break occurred.

On Monday, the authority had a loss of positive water pressure because of the break, on a 12-inch water main along Route 356 in Allegheny Township, near Northmoreland Park.

“A loss of positive water pressure is a signal of the existence of conditions that could allow contamination to enter the distribution system through back-flow by back pressure or back-siphonage,” a statement from the authority said. “As a result, there is an increased chance that the water may contain disease-causing organisms.”

The authority advises customers to not drink the water without boiling it first.

It’s unclear when the advisory will be lifted. Junker said 3,884 of the authority’s customers are impacted by the advisory.

“To give you an ETA would be to speculate what the future test results would be. But I can tell you the earliest would be Saturday morning, and that’s depending on test results which we don’t have yet,” he said.

On Wednesday morning, Gilpin Township’s Municipal Authority extended its boil water advisory for at least two more days due to a positive test in Leechburg. The Parks Township Municipal Authority also issued a boil water advisory for its customers.

The break caused Kiski Area School District to have two virtual learning days earlier this week. A notice on the district’s website recommends students come to school with filled water bottles for the remainder of the week. The district will also provide water bottles and water stations.

Junker said the authority will continue to provide updates on its webpage at mawc.org. People also can call the authority at 724-755-5800 with questions.