City of Allegan under boil water advisory amid 'extraordinary' water main break

ALLEGAN, Mich. — A citywide boil water advisory is in effect for most of Allegan after what one city official called an “extraordinary” water main break, and the worst the city has seen in at least 15 years.

The cracked water main is beneath Marshall Street (M-89), near the Robinson Manor, where water has been pouring into the roadway all day Thursday as workers dig to reach the damaged pipe.

“This is a extraordinary case,” said Zac Kortz, Allegan’s water utilities director. “Usually when we get water main breaks, they break vertical to the lay of the pipe. This broke horizontal, so lengthwise with the pipe.”

Kortz said the broken pipe is cast iron dating back to the 1920s, making it especially vulnerable during Michigan’s freeze-thaw cycles.

“It’s very fragile with the freezing and thawing season. It draws the frost line down,” he said. “It’s a truck route with lots of heavy traffic. That causes the pipes underground to fracture sometimes,” Kortz said.

Because Marshall Street is a truck route, Kortz said there is a thick layer of concrete beneath the pavement, adding to the challenge of reaching the pipe.

Crews spent several hours cutting through that concrete and pumping water out of the ground to identify the full extent of the crack.

Kortz said even before a full damage assessment is complete, the city expects the repairs to be costly, with an estimated price tag of about $80,000 or more.

“It’s been at least 15 years since we’ve had one this bad. It doesn’t happen often,” Kortz said.

Repairs are expected to continue through the weekend, and in the meantime, the city is taking water samples and testing for dangerous bacteria, including E. coli.

Officials are urging Allegan residents to boil their water before using it for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, washing dishes, or for pets.

The majority of Allegan is impacted, according to officials, but some areas are not affected, including:

• All of Eastern Avenue
• Grand Street from Eastern Avenue east and everything north of that intersection
• All areas north of Briggs Street, including side streets off Briggs
• Areas between River Street and Main Street
• Any area north of Della Court

If you are uncertain if your water is impacted, it is recommended to take precaution.

Public health officials do not recommend using alternatives to boiling water, such as reverse osmosis or filters.

Before consumption, water should be boiled for at least one minute and allowed to cool.

The boil water advisory will remain in place until water samples show bacterial levels meet state standards, and the city announces that the advisory has lifted.