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WEST PITTSTON — Crews are expected to be finished with work on a broken water main that forced Wyoming Area Intermediate Center to close by Wednesday afternoon.
According to Pennsylvania Water Company spokesperson Susan Turcmanovich, about 700 homes and businesses along Wyoming Avenue have experienced no water, low pressure or cloudy water while work was being done at the corner of Linden Street and Luzerne Avenue in West Pittston on Tuesday.
There was no boil advisory in the area, and will not be throughout the process of work.
Since late Monday afternoon, crews have been operating valves to isolate the 20-inch main at the intersection of Linden Street and Luzerne Avenue. Turcmanovich said special parts are being brought in that will limit the impact to customers only in the immediate area of the break.
She said special pipe fittings will be installed Tuesday night, allowing crews to shut down the main along Linden Street between Susquehanna Avenue and Berry Street. Completion of the work should be finished Wednesday afternoon, she said. Water service to approximately 25 customers will be disrupted while repairs are made.
“We don’t have anyone without water,” Turcmanovich said. “There are no issues with the water quality, but some people may see some discolor. Their water quality is normal.”
Late Monday afternoon, a 20-inch main water valve broke, causing the disruption. Turcmanovich said crews brought in a second pump to help clear the water from the 30-foot hole that was dug in the street.
Throughout the area, water company crews worked to shut of 60 valves that lead into the broken pipe that was installed in 1890, to help keep minimize the impact of customers. Turcmanovich said this is the first issue the pipe has had since its installation.
“On site, have another pump we brought in to de-water the trench; It’s going to allow us to get down there to see what’s broken on the pipe,” Turcmanovich said. “Our crews are out in the area and working valves so that we can minimize the impact to our customers.”
Wyoming Area Superintendent Janet Serino made the decision to close the former Montgomery Avenue Elementary School late Monday night. The water company informed them the water was safe, but could be cloudy. The school was closed for precautionary reasons.
As far as opening on Wednesday, Serino said there are plans in place for students to get back to school in West Pittston. If the water continues to be cloudy, the school will pre-prepare lunches, served on paper trays, and have bottled water on sight, along with hand sanitizer for students. She also said the water company will be putting a water tanker on the property on Montgomery Avenue.
“I certainly had to close the school today,” Serino said. “We have some plans in place to make sure we open tomorrow.”
Unless something happens throughout the day, the intermediate center should be open on Wednesday.
For residents and businesses affected by the incident, there are water tankers set up at Antonio’s Pizza on Luzerne Avenue and at the Midway Shopping Center.
While nearly all business and homes were operating with water Tuesday afternoon, Crest Cleaners and Antonio’s Pizza are without water. Crest Cleaners owner Mike Lanunziata, while obtaining water from the tanker across the street, said his business is completely shut down because of the issue.
