Boil water advisory lifted for Washington County communities
Pennsylvania American Water has lifted a boil water advisory for an estimated 90,000 customers in portions of Washington and Allegheny counties.
The advisory was issued after a 48-inch water main break occurred on Friday night, causing significant damage to the building that houses the Elrama Volunteer Fire Company.
The advisory was lifted this morning after water samples taken Saturday and Sunday were negative for bacterial contamination.
Customers in 30 municipalities in Washington County and 14 in Allegheny County were notified Saturday that the break caused a power surge that resulted in a depletion of water at a tank near the Aldrich Water Treatment Plant in Elrama. This resulted in a loss of pressure in the company’s distribution system, requiring the issuance of the advisory.
The break was first reported at around 11:25 p.m. Friday not far from the Elrama VFC location at 17 Elrama Ave. This resulted in the closure of Elrama Avenue from Route 837 to Hout Lane.
The fire station remains closed, said Assistant Fire Chief Joe Turcin. A fire truck is at the department’s substation at the Union Township Municipal Building on Finleyville Elrama Road, Turcin said.
“We’re just waiting for the engineers to show up and look at (the damaged building),” he said.