PORT DEPOSIT, Md. —
UPDATE (10/23): The boil water advisory issued Wednesday for Port Deposit has been lifted, the Artesian Water Co. told WBAL-TV 11 News.
The company said all samples from the Maryland Department of the Environment came back in the clear, and residents are in the process of being notified.
Video above: Boil water advisory issued in Port Deposit
ORIGINAL STORY ( 10/22): The Artesian Water Co. announced a precautionary boil water advisory Wednesday for Port Deposit, citing a loss of positive pressure.
The advisory effects customers of the Port Deposit water system, who are advised to boil all water used for cooking, brushing teeth, making ice and drinking until further notice.
Port Deposit Mayor Wayne Tome Jr. told WBAL-TV 11 News that an old water valve broke on Main Street, leading to the precautionary advisory.
"It does not happen often. It hasn't happened since I've been living in town for 30-plus years," Tome said. "(The valve break caused) the water to stop in the town from the south end to Center Street."
The break has since been repaired and water service was restored, but as the utility flushes the system, the advisory must remain in place. It will be lifted once water tests verify the safety of the water supply, and the process may take up to two days.
The Maryland Department of the Environment said it has collected and submitted samples for testing to verify the safety of the water supply. MDE officials said they hope the advisory will be lifted by Thursday. The town awaits test results to determine whether the water samples are free of bacteria.
Artesian advises customers to bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute in order to make it safe for consumption. After boiling, allow the water to cool before use. Any ice made using tap water within the last 24 hours should not be consumed or used for drinking. The water can be used for bathing and washing without boiling.
Jack Morgan, owner of Cool Beans, said he's still able to craft lattes thanks to a built-in boiler on his shop's espresso machine.
"Our coffee pot, unfortunately, does not get quite to that temperature, so we had to boil some water. Same with dishes, (we're) boiling water," Morgan told WBAL-TV 11 News.
Port Deposit is making arrangements to help residents.
"The town also has drinking water available, and you can come by Town Hall for all the residents to have drinking water," Tome said.
Morgan said the close-knit community is working around the issue.
"Sometimes, things break and bad things happen. And, the only thing we can do is pull together as a community and try to do our best to communicate with each other as to what could be done or not done differently," Morgan said.
The boil water advisory was posted both online and on doors, but the mayor said his team wants to learn from the incident.
"We're going to work with Artesian to come up with a better plan to notify our town residents on any kind of situation, any water down," Tome said.
For more information, residents can call Artesian Water Co. at 800-332-5114.