The affected area includes portions of Highland Heights, Richmond Heights, Lyndhurst, South Euclid, Mayfield, Mayfield Heights, and Gates Mills.
RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio — A water main break in Richmond Heights has caused a boil advisory to be issued for several surrounding communities.
According to a Facebook post by the Richmond Heights Police Department, the “major” water main break is on Highland Road stretching west of Trebisky to Hillcrest. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes.
Because of the water main break, Cleveland Water says organisms that cause illness in people may have entered the water supply. A boil advisory has been issued for the area roughly bounded by the Lake County line and Highland Road on the north, Green Road on the west, Cedar Road and then Ridgebury Blvd. on the south, and the Chagrin River and then Brainard Road on the east.
The area includes portions of Highland Heights, Richmond Heights, Lyndhurst, South Euclid, Mayfield, Mayfield Heights, and Gates Mills. You can see a map of the affected area here.
Cleveland Water says they anticipate the boil advisory continuing through Monday morning.
Customers under the boil advisory should bring water to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute before consuming. Water can be used for bathing or showering.
Cleveland Water says it has no evidence at this time that the water system is contaminated. The possibility does exist that the water system could be contaminated and is issuing the advisory as a precaution.
This 54-inch water main break on Highland Road is on a water main not used for direct service to customers. However, it may also cause additional disruptions in water quality including discolored water and/or potentially a temporary increase in lead levels in the drinking water.
As a precaution, Cleveland Water says those in the affected area may wish to use a water filter to temporarily filter your water used for drinking, cooking, and brushing your teeth. The filter should be certified to remove lead. Manufacturer’s instructions on how to properly use the filter, including when the filter should be changed are included with the filter and should be read prior to use.
Cleveland Water has crews on-site investigating the issue. They are working on locating and isolating the break. This involves turning off several large valves in order to stop the flow of water from the break. Once the break is isolated, customers should begin to have water pressure restored.
This is a developing story. Stay with 3News for more details as they become available.
