File photo.
A water main break and sinkhole have triggered a boil water advisory for residents in portions of Langhorne Borough and Middletown Township.
The Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority issued the advisory after a main ruptured beneath the intersection of East Winchester Avenue and North Pine Street (Route 413) in the borough.
The break caused a loss of water pressure, which the authority warned could allow contaminants to enter the system through backflow.
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“As the result, there is an increased chance that the water may contain disease-causing organisms,” the authority told customers in a statement.
The authority is advising impacted customers not to drink the water without boiling it first.
The advisory impacts:
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• North Pine Street between East Watson Avenue and Old Mill Drive.
• East Winchester Avenue between Valley View Road and Bellevue Avenue.
• East Watson Avenue between Belleview Avenue and North Pine Street.
• Additional Streets: East Marshall Avenue, Penns Avenue, Elbow Alley, Cherry Street, Summit Avenue, Penncrest Drive, Greenridge Drive, Valley View Road, Brentwood Drive, and Long Avenue.
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Residents living outside that boundary may notice discolored water but are not currently required to boil it before use, according to the authority.
Officials said some people face an increased risk of illness from contaminated water, including infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with severely compromised immune systems.
A tile mosaic of the Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority seal.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
The restoration process is expected to take several days.
Once crews complete repairs to the main, the authority must conduct bacteria testing to ensure the water is potable, according to a notice provided to residents.
It can take two to three days to make sure the water is safe, the authority stated, adding that customers will be notified once the boil water advisory is lifted.
Langhorne Borough officials reported that multiple water main breaks in the area.
The volume of escaping water undermined the roadway and led to a sinkhole at the site of the break, according to the area.
