Collinsville asks residents to conserve water while city repairs water main break
After a “significant” water main break in Collinsville, officials are asking residents to conserve water and reminding them to boil any water they plan to consume.
The water main break is on Collinsville Road near the city’s water plant. Collinsville said in a statement that the break happened at 10 p.m. Tuesday. Since then, the city has lost water pressure and volume.
“The water department is managing to move a limited amount of water into the distribution system,” the city wrote in the statement issued around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. “Our current supply rate is well below normal water-use demand. Because of this, the City of Collinsville Water Department asks that our water customers please refrain from unnecessary water use at this time.”
The city instructed residents to bring water they plan to use for drinking or cooking to a rolling boil for at least five minutes before use. It added that anyone with an ice maker should turn it off and discard the ice produced.
People who don’t have access to drinking water can pick up water bottles at Fire Station 1, 130 S. Clinton St., the city said. “Please approach via the rear parking lot and be mindful of any first responder vehicles entering or leaving the station,” it wrote in a late morning statement.
The initial boil order notice was published on social media just before 6 a.m. Wednesday. The city stated the order would be in effect until further notice.
Water main repairs have been underway since 11 p.m. Tuesday, according to the city.
Crews had some difficulty with the repairs because the water main “broke in a very tight place” that is surrounded by utility lines from Ameren and AT&T, Public Works Director Dennis Kress said in a video update from the city Wednesday afternoon.
“We’re currently getting water for residents in the northeastern part of town from Maryville,” Kress said in the update about 3:30 p.m. “The residents that are at the lower elevation or below the bluff have water. We’re pumping water out of the ground storage tank to everyone, but we don’t have enough water to supply everybody that lives on top of the bluff.”
Kress could not immediately be reached for further comment.
Wednesday was the first day of school for students in Collinsville Unit 10. The district stated Wednesday morning that school was in session as planned with water being delivered to the buildings affected by the water main break. But Holy Cross Lutheran School canceled its first day of school Wednesday, citing low water pressure.
Some businesses were also affected. Old Herald Brewery and Distillery announced it would not be open for lunch. Ramon’s El Dorado, which opens afternoons, closed for the day Wednesday.
