NEWS

Ossining boil-water advisory after water main break

James P ORourke, and Thane Grauel
TJN

Crews repair a water-main break off Hawkes Avenue near Rourte 9A in Ossining Aug. 1, 2014. The break closed local roads.

OSSINING – A boil-water advisory was issued Friday for about 5,000 people served by the Village of Ossining Water Department as a result of a broken water main.

In addition, Route 134 was closed Friday between the Route 9A ramp and Hawkes Avenue for emergency construction expected to last approximately three days.

The Westchester County Health Department said Friday that those in the central section of the village and in the unicorporated area of Ossining town who are served by the Village of Ossining Water Department must boil their water at a rolling boil for at least one minute before drinking, using it for food preparation, washing dishes by hand or brushing teeth, at least through Sunday. Residents can use bottled water instead of boiling.

A broken water main forced the closure of Kitchawan Road in Ossining on Thursday, July 31, 2014, and would likely lead to at least a partial closure of southbound Route 9A.

The advisory does not extend to bathing, clothes washing or use of a dishwasher.

The boil-water advisory was issued as a precaution to protect residents from potential contamination caused by groundwater infiltration into water mains as a result of the reduction in water main pressure because of the water main break. Officials will test water samples for coliform bacteria.

The affected streets range from Route 9 on the west, Morningside Drive on the east, Hawkes Avenue at Bridle Path Road on the north and Macy Road at Wolden Road on the south.

The break, which occurred on Kitchawan Road, or Route 134, about 6:30 p.m., affected numerous homes in the area and caused substantial damage to sections of the street between Croton Dam Road and Hawkes Avenue.

Westchester County police said the break also sent water onto Route 9A, which runs parallel to Kitchawan Road.

The break closed Kitchawan Road on Thursday and closed one southbound lane of Route 9A into Friday. The lane reopened about 2 p.m.

@JORourkeT800