A precautionary boil order for a large part of Round Lake Beach has been lifted after a car crashed into a fire hydrant, causing a 16-inch water main line to break and the street to flood Friday evening.
The Round Lake Beach Police Department and Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded around 5:20 p.m. Friday to the area of North Cedar Lake Road and North Channel Drive in Round Lake Beach for a service call.
Firefighters arrived and found a car that had hit a fire hydrant on North Channel Drive just east of North Cedar Lake Road, causing it to shear off and water to flood part of North Channel Drive, according to fire department radio traffic.
The car involved – a Chevrolet Camaro – also crashed into a fence.
Round Lake Beach Deputy Police Chief Tim Schuster said the car swerved off the road and hit the fire hydrant in the 200 block of North Channel Drive.
“The force of the crash resulted in the fire hydrant to dislodge, causing a large break in the 16″ water main,” village officials said.
“That water main functions as one of the main feeder lines within the Village of Round Lake Beach,” officials added.
The immediate area experienced a rapid loss of water as a result of the incident.
Water flooded part of the street and towards at least two houses next to the sheared fire hydrant. The extent of water damage to the nearby homes is unclear.
The Round Lake Beach Public Works Department was notified of the break at 5:15 p.m. and sent crews to the scene.
Residents and businesses in the Round Lake Beach area reported on social media that they temporarily had no water pressure due to the incident.
Backup pumps were turned on and auxiliary water was pumped directly to the affected area at 6:30 p.m., village officials said.
Public works crews isolated the water main break at 6:38 p.m. and system pressure returned to normal as of 7 p.m., village officials added.
“Due to the massive pressure loss, the village has issued a precautionary boil order to residents affected in the area,” officials said.
Residents in the orange-shaded area were under the precautionary boil order.
The purple-shaded area does not mean anything on the map and was not under the precautionary boil order.
Village officials added that residents in towns besides Round Lake Beach were not affected.
“Water samples will be drawn and tested throughout the entire system to ensure proper water quality, however, the testing can take 24-48 hours to receive results,” village officials said.
“When the results are returned, the precautionary boil order will be lifted.”
“The village of Round Lake Beach apologizes for the inconvenience of this incident,” the village said.
Officials announced late Saturday evening that the boil order had been lifted for most Round Lake Beach residents.
Residents who live on North Channel Drive from Cedar Lake Road to Sunnyside Court remain under the boil order.
Charges may be filed against the driver of the Chevrolet as the crash remains under investigation by the Round Lake Beach Police Department.