STEUBENVILLE - A water boil order remains in effect today for the LaBelle water district of the city as water department officials wait for test results from a New Philadelphia laboratory.
Water Department Superintendent Bill Skinner said Water Filtration Plant Laboratory Technician Joe Bottegal was scheduled to collect seven water samples from different affected areas of the city early this morning.
"The water samples will be immediately transported to Ream & Haager Laboratories in New Philadelphia for the 24-hour E-coli and fecal coliform testing. A Ream & Haager Laboratories representative is scheduled to contact the water filtration plant late Sunday morning with the laboratory analyses results. If all samples tested negative for E coli and fecal coliform, I will lift the boil water advisory for all water customers of the Labelle Water District," explained Skinner.
The results of the laboratory tests and the status of the boil water advisory will be posted on the Herald-Star website at www.heraldstaronline.com as soon as the notification is made.
"While the boil water advisory is in effect, all drinking water, cooking water and water used for oral hygiene should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil for one continuous minute for disinfection purposes before use until the advisory is lifted," stated Skinner.
A main water transmission pipe from the city water filtration plant split Thursday afternoon beneath University Boulevard sending water cascading down the street and leaving hundreds of city residents without water for several hours Thursday evening.
Skinner said the ruptured pipe supplied water to the LaBelle water tower tank and affected residences and business in the Labelle, Pleasant Heights, McCauslen Manor, Lawson Estates, Lincoln Heights, College Heights including Franciscan University of Steubenville, Bel-Air Terrace, Brady Estates, Manhattan Subdivision, Shirley Circle, Lower Hollywood Estates, Hollywood Plaza, Langley Avenue, 1400 through 2217 blocks of Sunset Boulevard, 1400 and 1500 blocks of University Boulevard, Brady Avenue, Spring Avenue, Elm Street, Mears Avenue, Terrace Avenue, Ward Place, Main Street, George Street and 900 and 1000 blocks of West Adams Street neighborhoods.
Skinner said water department crews replaced 15 feet of broken pipe and had started re-energizing the water system at approximately 9 p.m. Thursday.
"The areas that lost water Thursday evening remain under a boil order until further notice," said Skinner.
Skinner said the split in the pipe was caused by the age of the infrastructure.
The ruptured water pipe buckled a sidewalk in front of the filtration plant and sent water cascading down University Boulevard until it was shut off.
Skinner said if one sample tests positive for E coli or fecal coliform, the boil water advisory will be extended a minimum of 24 hours until all seven repeat samples return with a negative analysis.
"Once the boil water advisory is lifted, Steubenville Health Inspector Tony Pasquarella will contact all affected restaurants, medical facilities, dental facilities, doctor offices and businesses," said Skinner.
"I wish to thank all city departments, city employees and the news media for their assistance with this event. I especially wish to thank the affected residents and businesses for their cooperation, patience and understanding during this extended time of inconvenience," said Skinner.
Any residents with concerns or questions should call the staff at the water filtration plant at (740) 283-6041.
