Boil Water Notice Issued after “Major” Water Line Break in Marshall

MARSHALL � A water line break on the city’s south side has prompted Marshall officials to advise residents in the affected area to boil water. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the line break is affecting as many as 3,000 customers in these areas:

South of University Avenue, and south of Johnson Street.
West of Highway 59 southward to the city limits.

Until further notice, customers in those areas are being asked to boil water used in cooking or for consumption. The city also recommends boiling for any customer who experienced low water pressure or no water. Officials were asking all residents to conserve water.

“We have a major 16 inch water line break,” J.C. Hughes, the city’s water utility director, wrote in an email to other officials and media. “The break is severe enough to greatly lower the Spring Street water tower and starting to reduce levels in the Arena Tower.” The break, on Pinecrest Drive just west of Garrett Street, has made water pressures on the south side of Marshall “very low.” As a result, the city asked Saturday for water conservation while crews worked to resolve the situation. Earlier, Hughes said falling pressure in lines around the city could lead to as many as a third of Marshall residents being put on boil water notice. The pipe that blew out was placed in 1967, he said, and apparently shifted after recent rains.

Here is the official boil notice:

“To ensure destruction of all possible harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to consumption; bring water to a vigorous rolling boil and then boil for an additional two (2) minutes. In lieu of boiling, you may choose to purchase bottled water for cooking or consumption purposes. We will notify you when it is no longer necessary to boil the water.”