Boil water advisory affects thousands of households in multiple Pittsburgh neighborhoods
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority has extended a precautionary boil-water advisory for Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield, East Liberty, Friendship, Garfield, Highland Park, Homewood North, Morningside, North Point Breeze, Point Breeze, Shadyside, South Oakland and Swisshelm Park neighborhoods after an electrical outage Sunday at an undisclosed pump station.
More than 6,100 households are affected by the boil-water advisory.
PWSA officials will take two rounds of water samples to be tested for contamination. According to Rebecca Zito, PSWA’s Senior Manager of Public Affairs, testing will take 48 hours and the earliest day the advisory could be lifted would be Tuesday.
The power outage happened about 2 a.m. Sunday and resulted in low and no water pressure for the affected communities. Although water pressure was restored around 5 a.m. Sunday, the authority reported that when there’s a water pressure loss, contaminants can sometimes enter the drinking water.
We have issued a boil water advisory for portions of some eastern neighborhoods and South Oakland.
Search our interactive map here: https://t.co/hYZAfWhQq5
Read the press release: https://t.co/kb5bhCaOeR
Follow updates at https://t.co/cjisbf617f— Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority (@pgh2o) February 12, 2023
Water buffaloes are available at the following locations — Bloomfield, 477 S. Atlantic Ave.; Highland Park, North Negley Avenue at Bryant Street; Morningside, Morningside Avenue at Duffield Street; North Point Breeze, North Lang Avenue at Park Lane Drive; Shadyside, Howe Street at College Street; South Oakland, Dawson Street at Holmes Place; and Swisshelm Park, Onondago Street near Swisshelm Playground.
PSWA will conduct water testing to confirm adequate disinfectant levels to verify water is safe to consume.
Consumers in impacted areas are urged to boil tap water for a least one minute before brushing teeth, washing dishes, preparing food, making ice, drinking or giving to pets to drink.
Boiling kills harmful bacteria in the water that may cause illness. Freezing does not kill bacteria.
To search the interactive map of affected neighborhoods, click here.
Customers with questions can call 412-255-2423.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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