SEQUIM — About eight Sequim water customers have been advised to boil their tap water after a water main break in the 800 block of East Washington Place.
The break, called in by a resident at about 5:30 a.m. Thursday, was repaired by 9:45 a.m. and water was restored to affected customers early Thursday afternoon, said David Garlington, Public Works director.
“Water was pouring down the street,” Garlington said. “It was a clean break. It wasn’t something that had been leaking underground for any length of time.”
The break was caused by tree roots that had grown around the pipe, he said. The tree — a maple, he believed — was removed after notifying the owner.
The break caused a drop in water pressure. The boil-water advisory was issued as a precaution because contaminants could have entered the water lines when the system lost pressure, Garlington said.
Included in the advisory are all of the city’s water customers at 804, 806, 810, 812, 814, 816, 818 and 820 E. Washington Place, which is north of Les Schwab and east of Brown Road.
The state Department of Health advised residents in the affected area to use boiled water or use purchased bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, dishwashing, preparing food and making ice.
Water should be boiled briskly for one minute and allowed to cool before use.
Chlorinated water has been flushed through the pipes and samples of the city water taken to test for contaminants, Garlington said.
The results are expected to be known within the next 24 hours, he said.
Affected residents will be notified directly when boiling water is no longer needed, officials said.
For more information, call the Sequim Public Works Department at 360-683-4908 or see the Department of Health website at www.doh.wa.gov.
