Company Issues Boil Water Advisory For Customers In Parts Of Montgomery County
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- Pennsylvania American Water has issued a boil water advisory for customers in parts of Montgomery County, while a mandatory conservation notice remains in effect for all of the company's Norristown area customers (See Related Story).
The company says they experienced a loss in positive water pressure on Tuesday due to treatment issues that limited the production capacity of its Norristown Water Treatment Plant. Officials say recent heavy rains created high turbidity (cloudiness) in the raw water supply and affected the plant's capacity.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Pennsylvania American Water says loss of positive water pressure is a signal of the existence of conditions that could allow contamination to enter the distribution system through backflow by back-pressure or back-siphonage. As a result, officials say there is an increased chance that the water might contain disease-causing organisms.
The boil water advisory applies to the company's customers in the following communities:
· East Norriton Township
· West Norriton Township
· Lower Providence Township
· Whitpain Township
· Worcester Township
· Whitemarsh Township
Customers are advised not to drink the water without boiling it first. Officials say customers should bring all water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and cool before using; or use bottled water. Officials advise customers to use boil or bottled water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and food preparation until further notice.
Pennsylvania American Water says personnel are working to resolve the treatment issues at the plant and customers might experience no water service or low pressure until normal production levels resume.
The company says they are providing alternate water sources for customers. Water tankers will be stationed at the following locations and customers are asked to supply their own containers:
· Jeffersonville Fire Company at School Lane and Egypt Road
· Lower Providence Fire Company at Ridge Pike and East Mount Kirk Avenue
· East Norriton Fire Company on Swede Road
· East Norriton Fire Station at Germantown Pike and Whitehall Road
The mandatory conservation notice issued earlier Tuesday affects all of Pennsylvania American Water's approximately 31,000 customers in its Norristown area system. Customers are asked to limit their water use to essential purposes only until plant operators can resolve the issue.
The company says they will notify customers when tests show no bacteria and they no longer need to boil their water, and when the mandatory conservation notice is lifted.
The company is also providing updates through the Pennsylvania American Water website at www.pennsylvaniaamwater.com, under the Alert Notifications section.
For more information, contact Pennsylvania American Water's customer service center at 1-800-565-7292.
