Release Date: Feb 9, 2007
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Summary:
Wilmington Pike Water Main Break

A water main break that occurred around 9 PM on Friday night on Wilmington Pike just north of Dorothy Lane caused Kettering residents in that area to experience a significant drop in their water pressure according to Montgomery County Sanitary Engineering Department.  An 8 foot section of water main blew out and the water level dropped in the David Road elevated water storage tank.  Pressurization of the system did not go to zero but many customers in the area experienced a trickle of water flowing when they opened their faucets. The effected water main was shut down and the area isolated by 11:00 PM. The water level in the David road tank began to return to normal and restored pressure to that zone. The area regained their water at approximately 11:30 AM on Saturday morning.

This direct area was placed on a boil water advisory until the water tests can be cleared on Sunday morning. Those customers affected have been notified with a door hanger advising them to boil their water for 3 minutes prior to using it for cooking or consumption until the boil water advisory is lifted.
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Some customers may experience some discoloration in their water and they should not use their hot water but turn on their cold water and allow the water to clear. "When we experience a major break like this one the water in the system will reverse it normal flow direction to compensate for the loss at the main break site. This will cause some discoloration which does not look clear but is not a safety risk for the customer," explained Greg Merrill, Sanitary Engineering Department Director.

The County received over 900 calls from customers during this time to report the problem. "We do appreciate our customers calling to report the problem.  Staffing was not available to respond to all callers during the late evening hours," said Merrill.  The lingering, below freezing temperatures serve to increase the risk of a main break.  The Montgomery County Sanitary Engineering Department works on a 24/7/365 schedule to respond to the breaks as they occur.  Merrill stated that, "Our employees remain prepared to battle the bitterly cold conditions to return service to our customers as quickly as possible and to minimize our customer's inconvenience."