Boil alert issued for South Side, part of Boardman

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A boil-alert advisory remains in effect for water customers on the city’s South Side and a portion of Boardman Township.

The Youngstown Water Department experienced a large waterline failure Thursday afternoon on Canfield Road near St. Christine Church.

Due to the low pressure that resulted from the failure, water-department officials recommend all city water customers south of Canfield Road and Indianola Avenue boil their water that is used for cooking and drinking.

The city will notify customers as soon as possible when the water has been tested and is considered safe.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency recommends all water-system operators follow this procedure for depressurization of drinking- water lines. A rolling boil for one minute is adequate for water that will be used for cooking and drinking.

The Mahoning County District Board of Health alerted licensed food establishments that receive their water supply from the city in Mahoning County south of state Route 62 (Canfield Road) and Indianola Avenue that they either must use bottled water or boil their water, bringing it to a boil for at least one minute.

Potable water must be used for hand-washing, drinking, cooking, making ice and washing dishes until further notice.

For food-prep areas, hand sanitizers are not recommended as a safe alternative to washing hands with soap and warm water. If a licensed food establishment cannot supply a potable source of water, then the county health board advises establishments to temporarily cease operations until the boil alert is lifted.

Guidelines for restaurants on what to do when an interruption of potable water occurs can be found on the health department’s website at www.mahoninghealth.org.