LEMOYNE, Pa. — Pennsylvania American Water (PAW) announced it initiated a Boil-Water Advisory in Lemoyne Borough Monday night, due to pressure loss from a water main break.
The advisory affects customers along Lowther Street, the water company said.
"A loss of positive water pressure is a signal of the existence of conditions that could allow contamination to enter the distribution system through back-flow by back pressure or back siphonage and due to the proximity to an existing leach field," Pennsylvania American Water said. "As a result, we are issuing a boil water advisory for customers in the affected area."
Customers are urged to not drink water without boiling it first while the advisory is in place, PAW said.
"Bring all water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and cool before using, or use bottled water," the company told customers. "You should use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and food preparation until further notice."
Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms, the company said. These organisms include bacteria, viruses and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea and associated headaches.
These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms in drinking water, but also by other factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.
Guardians of infants and young children and people at increased risk, such as pregnant women, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems, should seek advice from their healthcare advisors about drinking this water. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1(800)426-4791.
Pennsylvania American Water said it is working to repair the main break. The company is also collecting and analyzing additional water quality samples including bacteria samples.
