Boil order issued throughout most of St. Clair County after water main break
A boil order has been issued for most communities in St. Clair County and parts of Monroe County after construction workers hit a water main, Illinois American Water Co. said.
The company issued the boil order about 3 p.m. Wednesday, saying that a contractor working at its Metro East Water Treatment Plant near East St. Louis hit a 24-inch water main, causing a drop in water pressure.
The following communities are under the boil order:
- Belleville
- East St. Louis
- Centreville
- Brooklyn
- Fairmont City
- Sauget
- Shiloh
- Washington Park
- Alorton
- Cahokia (from Commonfields of Cahokia PWD)
- Swansea
- Canteen Township
- St. Clair Township
- Stookey Township
- Smithton Township
- Scott Air Force Base
- Fairview Heights (which gets its water from O’Fallon)
- O’Fallon
- Caseyville
- Millstadt
- Commonfields of Cahokia Public Water District users
- Columbia
- Waterloo
- Concordia Water District
Anytime water drops below 20 pounds per square inch in any part of a community’s distribution system, a boil order must be issued as a precaution to protect customers, the company said in a news release.
Customers in the affected areas have been told to bring water to a rolling boil for five minutes before using for drinking or cooking. It is still safe to use water for bathing, washing and other uses, the company stated.
A boil order was ordered in the same region in January 2018 when winter weather affected water mains.
Karen Cooper, senior manager of field operations and production for Illinois American, said the contractor was clearing trees and brush for a construction project when the water main was hit.
“We apologize for this inconvenience to our customers,” she said. “Repairs will be made. Our team is also working hard to lift the boil water order as soon as possible.”
Cahokia Unit School District 187 has closed school for Thursday due to the boil order, personnel secretary Shakita Cobb said.
Customers will be notified by robo calls and website alerts, and through the news media, when the boil water order is lifted.
More information can be found at www.illinoisamwater.com.
This story was originally published August 28, 2019 at 3:28 PM.
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