Pennsylvania American Water issued a boil water advisory on Saturday for approximately 536 customer connections in Pringle and Courtdale boroughs in Luzerne County.

“Early this morning, we experienced a loss of positive water pressure due to a main break in our Ceasetown system, which also caused a storage tank to drain, leaving some customers without water service and others with limited pressure,” reads a company news release. “A loss of positive water pressure is a signal of the existence of conditions that could allow contamination to enter the distribution system through back-flow by back pressure or back siphonage. As a result, we are issuing a boil water advisory for customers in the affected area.”

The notice applies to customers along the following streets:

• Courtdale Avenue

• Albert Street

• Roy Street

• Barry Street

• Yank Street

• Grey Street

• Harrington Street

• Victoria Drive

• White Rock Terrace

• Cooper Street

• Maddens Lane

• Valley View Drive

• North N Street

• North Center Street

• Evans Street

• Flanagan Street

• Courtright Street

• Pringle Street

• Hoyt Street

• Connor Street

• Roosevelt Street

• North Street

• Helen Court

• Bryden Court

• Hill Street

For a map of the affected area, visit https://alertsdetail.awapps.com/alert/118271.

To ease this inconvenience, a potable water tanker will be available at the Courtdale Municipal Building at 5 Blackman St., according to the release. Customers are asked to bring their own containers to fill.

The water company emphasised that people should not drink the water without boiling it first.

“Bring all water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and cool before using; or use bottled water. You should use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further notice,” the release states.

According to the release:

Customers who currently have limited water service should follow the provided boil instructions, and temporarily limit their water use to essential purposes only. Customers without water service should follow the same boil instructions when their water service returns.

Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.

These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms in drinking water, but also by other factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.

Guardians of infants and young children and people at increased risk, such as pregnant women, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems, should seek advice from their health care advisors about drinking this water. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

What happened? What is being done?

The water company stated in the release that it isolated the main break and was working on repairs, with service expected to be fully restored within 8 hours. After system pressure is restored, the company will collect and analyze water quality samples, including bacteria samples. It will then inform customers when they no longer need to boil their water.

For information, visit www.pennsylvaniaamwater.com, and select Alerts, or contact Pennsylvania American Water’s customer service center at 800-565-7292.