PORT ANGELES — The 20-inch water main that affected service to hundreds of homes has been repaired, and many are boiling drinking water until test results come in sometime today.
Repairs by Interwest Construction, Inc., of Burlington were finished by about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, the city reported on its website. The work restored water service to all customers impacted by the break that occurred early Saturday morning.
Mike Healy, interim Public Works director, said about a small swimming pool’s worth of water was lost in the break.
“We were able to shut it down pretty quick,” Healy said.
A boil-water advisory remained in effect Thursday for homes in the Golf Course Road area as well as east to Mount Pleasant Road until satisfactory water sample test results have been obtained.
The repaired water main has been disinfected and flushed and water samples have been taken. Test results are expected today.
The concrete main line down a steep slope in a valley on a hillside off Monroe Road broke in two places on Saturday morning, cutting off water to 170 homes, two assisted living complexes and a mental health care facility in the Golf Course Road area. A boil-water advisory was issued for 318 homes in the Mount Angeles Road area.
Crews were able to fix part of a service line over the weekend, but because of the location of the water main, a larger piece of equipment was needed and had to be brought from out of town.
Once at work, the construction crews ran into large boulders and other problems repairing the break. They worked until after dark on Wednesday.
City staff distributed bottled water door-to-door Saturday, and arrangements were made with residents for access to showers at the Shore Aquatic Center in Port Angeles as well as non-potable water.
Homes under boil-water advisories should use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking, cooking, making ice and brushing teeth.
Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute to kill bacteria and other organisms that may have been introduced into the water.
Tap water is safe for showering, bathing and for other household uses, including washing dishes in the dishwasher as long as the heat/sanitizing cycle and commercial dishwashing detergent are used.
If brown water comes from a faucet, flush the water lines by running the water in a bathtub or sink until the water runs clear.
For more information, check the city website or call 360-417-4800 — 360-417-4726 after hours or on the weekend — or email publicworks@cityofpa.us.
