UPDATED: Normal under boil order following major water main break

Posted on March 10, 2017

Redbird Water Tower — Normal is under a boil order until further notice. (Photo courtesy Town of Normal)

By Eric Stock

NORMAL – All of Normal is under a boil order until further notice following a major water main break.

Crews are making repairs to the water main in the 1000 block of East College Avenue. The main broke at 11:30 p.m. Thursday.

PODCAST: Listen to WJBC’s interview with Normal City Manager Mark Peterson.

Tyler Scheirer, Normal’s Water Treatment Plant Assistant Supervisor, said the water system pressure dropped to a level that requires a town wide boil order.

City manager Mark Peterson said town wide orders like this are rare, but necessary in this case.

“Once you fall below that minimum level of pressure, there’s the opportunity for a back flow into the system,” Peterson said. “It’s not likely to happen, but it could happen.”

The department anticipates service will be restored by noon. Scheirer added Illinois EPA mandates that the boil order be imposed for a minimum of 24 hours starting when the repairs are completed. The boil order will remain in effect until laboratory sampling confirms that the water quality has not been compromised.

Epiphany Catholic School in Normal is closed due to the water main break.

The Normal Police Department has closed the westbound lane on College Avenue between Blair Drive and Grandview Drive as water department crews make repairs.

Notification will be issued as soon as the boil order is lifted.

Water Department officials anticipate that the boil order will be lifted by 5 p.m. Saturday.

Anyone who has questions can call the Normal Water Department at (309) 454-9563.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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