Update 4:43 p.m.:
The City of Athens has issued a boil order for all Athens water customers located west of U.S. 33 and north of Hocking River, except for University Estates and North Pointe subdivision, according to the Ohio Emergency Alert System.
The boil order also includes all of Ohio University's campus with the exception of The Ridges.
The boil order expires at 10 p.m. Wednesday Feb. 27, according to Ohio EAS.
The order is just a precautionary measure. The Ohio EPA recommends all public water suppliers issue a boil order anytime the pressure in the water drops in this kind of situation.
3:54 p.m.:
The water transmission line on North Congress Street that burst early Tuesday morning has been repaired.
Water systems are currently being filled, though the process will be done slowly to prevent further damage to the transmission line, according to an update by the City of Athens.
As the system fills, mains will come back online and water service will return to affected areas. There will be intermittent outages while valves are being turned back on, according to the update.
The first areas of campus that will see water pressure improvements will be lower campus — West Green, South Green and East Green, according to an Ohio University alert.
Refilling the water system requires fire hydrants to remain open to release pressure, according to the Athens update.
For the rest of the day, citywide water might be discolored. This discoloration, because of high iron levels, is not harmful, according to the Athens update.
Starting at 4 p.m., contingency toilets will be placed on East Green, West Green and South Green and at Bromley Hall and 31 South Court St., according to the OU alert.
Information regarding a future boil alert will be issued soon, according to the Athens update.
2:20 p.m.
Major repairs have been made, but additional fixes remain, according to Ohio University's alert page.
Low water pressure is still expected for several more hours and hot water will remain unavailable.
Additionally, portable toilets will be stationed around campus beginning at 3:00 p.m.
Uptown businesses that handle food or that need water to prepare food are required remain closed, Hammer said.
Update 1:29 p.m.
Multiple businesses on Court Street have closed for the day, Athens City-County Health Department Administrator Charles Hammer said.
If a business requires water to operate and there is a water main break, they aren't authorized to be open, Hammer said.
Update 12:35 p.m.
City workers are almost finished fixing the break, said Andy Stone, director of engineering and public works.
All hot water has been shut off on Ohio University's campus, according to a universe news release.
Update 12:15 p.m.
There is no water in some College Green and upper campus buildings, including Bromley Hall and Scott Quad. Students in those buildings needing a bathroom or shower should go to Baker University Center or the Ping Center, according to Ohio University's alert page.
All buildings and dining halls on campus are still open.
Update 12:02 p.m.:
O'Bleness Memorial Hospital has closed all outpatient services and the O’Bleness Family Medicine & Women’s Health Center in response to the water transmission line break, said Linda Weiss,public relations manager at O'Bleness in a news release.
The break will also temporarily affect the Castrop Center, O’Bleness Family Medicine & Women’s Health Center, O’Bleness Wound Care Center, Athens Medical Laboratory and Appalachian Community Visiting Nurses Association, Hospice and Health Service.
Sheriff Pat Kelly announced several bans that have been imposed to conserve water. They include:
- No washing of Motor Vehicles
- No running of outdoor fountains, reflecting pools and artificial waterfalls
- No non-agricultural plant watering
- No filling of private swimming pools
Because of the main break, there are boil orders for the many streets including Pine Place, Fremont Avenue, West Carpenter Street, First Street and Walker Street.
11:45 a.m.:
College green and buildings on upper campus, including Bromley, Scott Quad and others, are experiencing low water pressure, which should continue for the next three to four hours, according to the Ohio Emergency Alert System.
Campus will remain open and classes will continue as normal, said Jenny Hall-Jones, interim Dean of Students.
11:25 a.m.:
Athens City Schools will close early today. Athens Middle School and Athens High School will close at 12:30 p.m. and the elementary schools will be closed at 1:30 p.m.
10:40 a.m.:
The water line break caused low water pressure throughout Athens and on the Ohio University campus, according to an email from Residential Housing.
Domestic hot water is being reduced or shut down throughout the campus, and students are being asked to conserve water.
The Athens County Courthouse and Annex are closed for the day because of a lack of water.
Some Athens residents were awakened early Tuesday morning by the sounds of rushing water flooding into their homes.
At about 1:30 a.m., the main water line on North Congress Street in between Pine Street and Woodward Avenue ruptured, spewing a small river down the street.
“This is a catastrophic failure of the transmission water main straight from the reservoir,” said Nick Joseph, division of water supervisor for the Department of Engineering and Public Works
Athens has at least six reservoirs, said Jack Andrews, Athens water treatment plant operator.
Technicians might have been unable to reach the valve until the reservoir emptied, he said.
The Highland Reservoir could lose about 1 million gallons of water, affecting households connected directly to the reservoir, said Terry Gilkey, a maintenance technician working on repairs. He added Ohio University’s campus won’t be affected by the break.
“Hopefully the residents will have water (later Tuesday morning),” he said. “But we’re honestly not sure.”
One pipe is typically used for a water break, but six were used this time. Weather changes and the pipes’ ages played a factor in the water break, Gilkey said.
Gilkey said there was no estimate yet of how much damage the transmission failure will cost and when the break will be repaired.
Any resident who was affected by the water break can contact Ron Lucas, assistant service-safety director, for information on damages and insurance, Gilkey added.
hy135010@ohiou.edu
