A major water main leak along busy Route 59 has Plainfield residents literally boiling their water and figuratively boiling with frustration, after village officials slapped a precautionary boil order on a wide stretch of the community Thursday. Crews rushed to the scene to stabilize water pressure and fix the damaged main while traffic around the break squeezed down and slowed to a crawl.
Where the leak happened and who’s affected
Officials told CBS Chicago the leak was discovered on a transmission main near 13242 S. Route 59, followed by low water pressure rippling through nearby neighborhoods. The village responded with a precautionary boil order that covers Bronk Farm, Bronk Estates, Eagle Chase, Enclave, Golden Meadow Estates, Kensington Club, King's Crossing, Marybrook, Pheasant Chase, Prairie Creek, Quail Run, The Ponds, The Seasons and Wilding Pointe, hitting both homes and businesses.
People living or working in those areas were told to boil tap water for five minutes before drinking it, and to rely on boiled or bottled water for making ice, cooking, brushing teeth, and washing dishes. In short, if it goes anywhere near your mouth, it should be boiled first.
What residents should do
Federal recommendations are a little different from the local instructions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises bringing water to a full rolling boil for one minute, or three minutes at elevations above 6,500 feet. According to the CDC, bottled water is a safe stand-in while a boil order is active, and day-to-day chores like doing laundry are generally fine as long as no one swallows water while bathing or showering.
Traffic impact and repairs
On top of the water worries, drivers had to navigate a new headache. Southbound Route 59 was reduced to one lane between 127th and 135th streets while crews worked on repairs, according to CBS Chicago. Public works and utility teams concentrated on securing the break, restoring normal pressure in the system, and lining up testing and follow-up checks.
Plainfield residents are urged to keep an eye on official village announcements and local news for word on when the boil order is lifted and for any updates on water testing. Until authorities give the all clear, anyone unsure about the tap is better off sticking with bottled water for drinking and food prep.
