Boil order continues in Wilmington

By: 
Staff Report

    Contractors and the city public works department finished repairing a broken water main on Wilmington’s north side around 2:30 p.m. Friday, but residents who now have water at the tap remain under a boil order.
    Residents are advised to boil their water for at least five minutes prior to consumption until the order has been lifted.
    The boil order affects all city water users north of Baltimore Street and east of Water Street/the Kankakee River, including the sections of the original town and McIntyre’s Subdivision that lie north of Baltimore Street; Northcrest, Ropp’s and Van Duyne’s Subdivisions; Deer Creek Estates, Foxtail Commons and Water’s Edge. It also applies to properties on South Arsenal Road that use city water.
    The city issued a reverse 911 alert about 2 a.m. on Friday, March 16 to notify residents in those areas that a boil order was in effect until further notice.
    According to city hall, a 16-inch main on Kankakee River Drive just east of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks was broken and to be repaired. The break drained the north water tower in 30 minutes.
    Once water is restored to all customers, a sample will be tested for contaminants. The boil order will be in effect for 24 hours after the city receives results confirming a clean water test.
    The Free Press Advocate will update the status of the boil order as information becomes available.