The entire City of Lake Forest remains under a boil order on Saturday for a second day after a significant water main break disrupted water service Friday afternoon.
The City of Lake Forest said in an alert around 4 p.m. Friday that a significant water main break occurred.
The city issued a citywide boil order due to the break, which caused a drop in water pressure below IEPA acceptable levels.
The water main break along Westleigh Road was later repaired and water pressure has returned to normal throughout the system as of 9 a.m. Saturday.
“While this is a positive sign, the City cannot confirm the water is safe to drink until the laboratory test results are received. Out of an abundance of caution, the precautionary boil order will remain in place until testing confirms the water meets all public health standards,” the city said in a statement.
Officials say they expect initial test results by early Sunday.
The boil order could be lifted at that time or may need to be extended for another 24 hours depending on the results.
Residents are urged to use bottled water for drinking and cooking when possible.
Tap water can be brought to a rolling boil for three minutes before use if bottled water is not available.
Bottled or boiled water should also be used for brushing teeth and washing hands, city officials said.
Affected water is safe to use for bathing and showering. Using boiled or bottled water is recommended for washing dishes.
The affected tap water may be used if the clean dishes are soaked for at least one minute in a sink of water where a full tablespoon of regular household bleach has been added.
Those who have ice makers are recommended to turn off the ice maker and throw away any ice made during the boil order.
“Run cold water through the ice maker’s water line for a few minutes to flush it out. Sanitize the ice bin if possible. Only make new ice after the boil order is lifted and the water is confirmed safe to drink,” the city said.
Several samples were collected from throughout the system for testing after the water main was repaired.
Those who accidentally drank tap water before learning about the boil order should not worry about illness as the risk is “very low,” city officials said.
“During a boil order, if you are in good health, it’s unlikely you’ll get sick from drinking the water. Still, it’s important to be cautious. If you experience symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or stomach cramps after drinking the water, contact your healthcare provider for guidance,” the city said.