READING, Pa. – Repairs have wrapped up, but a boil water advisory remained in effect Wednesday for a few homes in Reading following two water main breaks. The breaks came during what has turned out to be a very busy stretch for the Reading Area Water Authority.
“A 6-inch water main break here in the 1400 block of Birch Street,” said Tony Reynolds, distribution superintendent, RAWA.
Water crews worked through the day, excavating and assessing the damage.
“In order to make repairs, we had to make a complete water shutdown, which means that we had a kill service to 32 homes,” Reynolds said.
The water main break led RAWA to issue a boil water advisory for the affected homes.
“We’ll take samples of the water to make sure it’s free of all bacteria, and then they’ll do it for three days, and then we’ll lift the boil water advisory on the third day,” Reynolds said.
And that wasn’t the only water main break in the city.
“The other one on Snyder, same thing. We had to terminate service to 14 connections over there. Boil water advisories are also being issued as well,” Reynolds said.
The break in the 1500 block of Snyder Street has also been repaired, and water on both streets is restored.
These breaks may not be the last. Officials say they run into this issue every winter, although this year has proven to be more challenging.
“Little more hectic this year, like we this is our 29th main break since the first of the year,” Reynolds said.
The recent deep freeze had the ground frozen for a long time.
“Then you have this warmer weather, where the ground shifts again, and then you have more water main breaks.” Reynolds said.
Officials say everyone affected has been notified.