About 3,500 residents in the Jeannette, Penn Township and North Huntingdon areas are under a boil-water advisory.
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County officials said Tuesday afternoon a water line break near 13th Street in Jeannette has left some customers with low water pressure or without service.
Officials said a 36-inch transmission line that carries water from Beaver Run Reservoir in Bell to Jeannette ruptured sometime Monday.
The line is buried about 22 feet underground, making repairs more difficult and requiring a private excavation company to assist with digging out the damaged section of pipe, authority Manager Michael Kukura said.
“The repairs are expected to be completed by the end of today,” Kukura said Tuesday.
Water buffaloes were placed at the intersection of Route 993 and Claridge Elliott Road, 13th Street in Jeannette and at the Westmoreland City Fire Hall at 8650 Broadway St.
Because the damage reduced the water pressure traveling through the transmission line, the authority was forced to issue the boil-water advisory.
Customers in portions of Penn Township, Jeannette, Penn Borough, Manor, portions of North Huntingdon, the villages of Biddle, Wegley and Westmoreland City, Irwin Borough, Arona and surrounding areas are under the boil-water advisory.
Kukura said low pressure could pull contaminants into the water system. Officials said customers in the impacted areas should continue to boil water for the next several days.
Once repairs are completed, the authority will conduct tests over the next 48 hours to ensure the water is safe. Once two consecutive tests reveal no adverse findings, the advisory will be lifted, Kukura said.
