Residents in Ligonier and Laurel Mountain boroughs and portions of Ligonier and Fairfield townships will have to boil their water before use following a water main break Sunday near Waterford.

The main break occurred along the transmission line from the Greater Johnstown Water Authority, said Matt Junker, spokesperson for the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County.

The municipal authority does not yet have a timeline for the repair or the boil water advisory, Junker said.

Because the main break happened underwater near a stream crossing, the repair is more complicated than usual, Junker said. It will take more time to repair, and the water left in the lines might have been contaminated.

Junker said residents should boil their water and make use of the Water Buffalo and limited bottled water supply available at the Ligonier Borough Municipal garage at 301 Bunger St.

Conservation of water is also encouraged.

“We’re maintaining our current levels, but we’re asking people to conserve while that repair is being made,” Junker said.

Once the repair is made, the municipal authority will need to pass two water bacteriological tests before lifting the boil water advisory. Each test takes 24 hours, Junker said.

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