Boil alert after Portage Lakes water main break. See if you are included

• A water main break in Akron’s Portage Lakes area has prompted a boil alert for 325 customers.
• Affected residents are advised to boil water used for drinking or cooking for at least two minutes.
• The city warns of potential water discoloration and a temporary increase in lead levels.
• The boil order impacts several streets and is typically lifted 24 hours after repairs are complete.

A water main break in the Portage Lakes area has prompted a boil alert for hundreds of customers.

The city of Akron says a water main break around 10:45 a.m. Friday, Jan. 16 on Cormany Road at Robinson Avenue affected some 325 customers who either had no water or little pressure.

Water flow has been restored while crews work to make repairs.

In the meantime, the city has issued a boil alert for some Portage Lake residents.

The following streets are part of the boil order:

• Ponciana Avenue from Portage Lakes Drive to Portage Point Boulevard
• Portage Point Boulevard from Portage Lakes Drive to the dead end
• Fan Drive from Portage Point Boulevard to the dead-end
• Portage Lakes Drive From Manchester Road to South Turkeyfoot Road
• Saunders Avenue from Portage Lakes Drive to Malley Avenue
• Cormany Road from Manchester Road to Portage Lakes Drive
• Manchester Road from Carnegie Avenue to Hyfield Avenue
• State Road from Manchester Road to 3783 State Road
• Robinson Avenue from Manchester Road to Cormany Road
• 710 and 711 Senn Drive
• 3037 South Prior Road (only address on South Prior Road)

The impacted customers are advised to boil their water until further notice.

Water that is used for drinking or cooking should be brought to a full boil for at least two minutes.

Such boil orders are typically lifted 24 hours after repairs are completed.

The city warns the disruption can also cause discolored water and the potential for a temporary increase in lead levels in the drinking water.

The U.S. EPA recommends the following actions to reduce possible lead exposure in drinking water:

• If water has not been used for several hours, run the tap until there is a noticeable temperature drop. Then, run water for 30 seconds to three minutes before using it for drinking and cooking. This helps flush water that may have contained lead that may have leached from plumbing.
• Use cold water for cooking, drinking and preparing baby formula. Boiling the water will not reduce lead.
• Clean your faucet aerator regularly.