Boil water alert mandated for northwest Jefferson County after water main break - AL.com

Boil water alert mandated for northwest Jefferson County after water main break - al.com

Birmingham Water Works mandated a boil water alert for northwest Jefferson County after a water main break Friday morning off Highway 78 in Pratt City.

The utility said these areas should bring all water to a rolling boil for three minutes before cooling:

- Forestdale
- Sandusky
- Pratt City
- Lewisburg
- Upper Coalburg
- Coalburg
- Mineral Springs
- Pinkney City
- Hayes
- Highland
- Greenleas Heights
- Smithfield Estates
- Zion Heights
- Westwood
- Union Grove
- Hillview
- Adamsville
- Fultondale
- Highway 78
- Cherry Avenue
- Tomahawk Drive

The boil water alert was also issued for streets adjacent to:

- Pratt Highway
- Dugan Highway
- Hibernian Street
- Coalburg Road
- Upper Coalburg Road
- Heflin Avenue
- Walker Chapel Road
- Brookside Coalburg Road

Customers were also advised to use bottled water if they do not want to boil water.

The utility learned of the break around 6 a.m. Friday, said BWW General Manager Michael Johnson.

“We got a notification that we had a leak coming out of our West Filtration Plant. That leak was on a 16-inch water main,” Johnson told reporters Friday afternoon.

“Because of the proximity to the plant ... they started to lose pressure really quickly,” he said. “We don’t see this often, and because of the loss of pressure ... we’ve had to issue a boil water notice.”

Johnson said the water should not be used to brush teeth, wash dishes, prepare foods or drink.

“Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms,” BWW stated in a news release announcing the alert. “These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly and people with severely compromised immune systems. All stored water, drinks, or ice made recently from this supply should be discarded.”

In addition to issuing a news release, Johnson said, the utility also made robocalls to affected customers.

Johnson said the utility anticipates restoring service by Friday night.

“We hope to have a repair done early this evening,:” he said. “Then once we have the repair done, we’ll flush the lines, we’ll start testing the water and we’ll issue a notice that the boil water alert has been lifted.”

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