AKRON, Ohio — The boil water advisory affecting portions of Akron was lifted Friday morning after water testing came back clean, the city announced in a news release. Drinking water is safe, officials said.
The advisory was issued Oct. 8 after a water main break caused depressurization in part of the city’s distribution system. The break occurred around 6:30 a.m. on a 12-inch main on South Arlington Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue. Roughly 232 customers were affected, in the area of 5th Avenue and East Crosier Street — including portions of 5th Avenue, Whitney Avenue, Baird Street, Bertha Avenue, Hudson, Elbon and Winans avenues. Hoban High School was also impacted.
The city said there is no indication of contamination during the break. Because the Crosier Street elevated tank is out of service for maintenance, customers on the 5th Avenue hill experienced reduced water pressure Thursday morning. Water pressure has since been restored, the release said.
Residents in the affected areas may notice discoloration or cloudiness in their water over the next day or two. To clear it, the city advises opening all cold-water faucets and bath or shower fixtures at the same time and flushing them for five minutes until the water runs clear.
Federal guidance also notes that running a tap until there is a noticeable temperature drop, then running it another 30 seconds to three minutes, can reduce potential lead exposure, and that cold water — not water that has been boiled — should be used for drinking, cooking and preparing baby formula.