In Pottstown, when one boil water notice is lifted, a new one is imposed

POTTSTOWN — Just a few hours after a boil water notice for the block of North Keim Street between Beech and Jackson streets was lifted, a new boil water notice advisory was issued for South Price Street from Center Avenue to South Street.

According to the borough’s “alert center” notice posted on the borough website, “a water main on South Price and Cherry Streets started leaking this the morning of Monday, Dec. 9.

“This required the Water Distribution Division to shut down the water main on South Price Street between Center Avenue and South Street resulting in the termination of service. The main will be repaired as quickly as possible to restore water service,” the borough noted.

As a result, “Do not drink the water in that area without boiling it for at least one minute. Let it cool before using, or use bottled water. “Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice,” according to the borough.

This latest notice, the third in the last week, marks a slew of water main breaks being experienced in Pottstown.

A fourth water main break Thursday on Sheridan Street was repaired without having to shut down the water main.

The “boil water alert” posted for the block of North Keim Street between Beech Street to Jackson Street Thursday was lifted Monday evening by the borough.

The alert was issued as the result of a water main break at Beech and North Keim Streets. Because water service had to be shut off to fix the leak, which was discovered late Wednesday afternoon, a boil water notice has been issued for all customers on North Keim Street between Beech and Jackson streets.

Because shutting down water service creates the conditions in which bacteria and other biological contaminants can form, the water cannot be declared safe to drink again after a repair until the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has tested it and found it to be safe.

Speaking to The Mercury last week, Public Works Director Doug Yerger predicted “we might be in for a rough season” of water main breaks. It looks like he was right.

One reason might be the ping-ponging temperatures the region has been experiencing

“There is a shock to the pipe when the water gets colder, and then when the ground freezes, it heaves and that’s usually a stress on the pipe,” Yerger said last week.

“Then by January, everything kind of settles into the new temperatures until it starts to thaw in February and then we usually get a lot of leaks,” said Yerger.

“We’ve been spoiled over the past few years and it hasn’t been too bad,” he said. “It looks like we might be in for a rough season.”