A water main broke this morning at 17th and Jackson streets, according to a city press release.
Crews worked through the night and are continuing to work to isolate and repair the break in the main, according to the press release. Yael Ksander, Bloomington communications director, said that repairs should be finished in the next few hours.
The city issued a Boil Water Advisory for West 17th Street between Maple and Madison/Kinser Pike until 3 p.m. Saturday. According to the Center for Disease Control, under a BWA, water should be boiled for one minute before consumption to kill pathogens.
Many people in the surrounding neighborhoods experienced or are still experiencing low water pressure or no access to water, but the numbers of people or boundaries of the area affected were unclear.
The break comes during a period when one of the two water mains that transports water from the Monroe Water Treatment Plant into Bloomington is out of service due to the Fullerton Pike road project. The water was taken out of service on Oct. 29 and the city said the change in flow patterns should not cause problems but may result in water main breakage, pressure changes and discolored water.
The water main break caused an already diminished supply of water to be further lowered Ksander said.
Sophomore Alyssa Taylor from Alpha Omicron Pi said she and her sisters woke up to no water in their N. Jordan Avenue house this morning. Taylor said their house mom bought water bottles to use for brushing teeth and drinking.
This is the second water main break that has affected N. Jordan Avenue residents in the past week.
Because of the additional pressure that IU athletic events will have on the water supply this evening and tomorrow, the city requested in a press release that people limit water use for the next 24 to 48 hours to allow water storage tanks to be replenished.
