Erie County has slapped a precautionary boil advisory on parts of Perkins Township after a water main break along Columbus Avenue between Perkins Avenue and Strub Road. County officials say crews have isolated the break and started digging in to fix the line, but many customers in nearby neighborhoods are still dealing with low water pressure. Anyone inside the shaded advisory area is being told to boil tap water for one to two minutes before drinking it, cooking with it, or mixing baby formula until testing gives the all clear.
Perkins Township Police pushed out the alert and a map on Facebook, noting that crews had isolated the break and were excavating to make repairs, according to the Perkins Township Police Department on Facebook. The Erie County Department of Environmental Services explains that boil advisories are issued as a precaution after pressure loss or main breaks, and that residents should dump any ice made during the event and rely on boiled or bottled water for anything they plan to drink while the advisory is active.
What residents should do
Residents in the advisory zone are urged to bring tap water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, or brushing teeth. At elevations above 2,000 meters, that boil time should stretch to three minutes. The CDC points out that boiling does not remove chemical contaminants, so if there is concern about chemicals in the water, officials may instead recommend sticking strictly to bottled water. See guidance from the CDC for more on safe water handling during an advisory.
When the advisory could be lifted
County procedures say a boil advisory has to remain in place for a minimum of 24 to 48 hours before EPA rules allow it to be lifted, and follow up bacteriological tests alone can take at least 24 hours. In practical terms, that means residents should plan on keeping precautions in place for at least a day after repairs are finished while samples are tested and results are reviewed. The Erie County Department of Environmental Services outlines the testing process and notification steps utilities must complete before an advisory is officially rescinded.
Service impacts and who’s affected
The township update also warned that many customers outside the shaded boil area could still see low water pressure while crews work on the line. Local reporting from the Sandusky Register echoed the county notice and noted that crews were on site Sunday afternoon, underscoring that nearby residents might feel the impact even if they are not directly inside the advisory zone. For maps and coverage of the rollout, residents can check both the township’s post and local reporting: the Perkins Township Police Department on Facebook and the Sandusky Register.
How to get updates
Officials say they will share repair and testing updates as work moves along, so residents should keep an eye on Perkins Township Police updates on Facebook and check the township website for the latest notices and local contact information. Anyone with questions about service to a specific address is encouraged to contact the township or their water utility directly; the Perkins Township site lists township offices and phone numbers. Perkins Township.
