A water main break in Bedford Heights has shut down a stretch of Solon Road and triggered a boil water advisory Thursday for customers in parts of Twinsburg, Macedonia and Northfield. The break is on Solon Road near the Interstate 271 overpass, and the road is closed between Randolph Road and Eldridge Boulevard with no announced reopening time.
Cleveland Water issued the advisory after the break, which involves a 12-inch main on Solon Road between Randolph Road and Eldridge Boulevard, according to Cleveland 19 News. The utility said the advisory is precautionary and that it has no evidence at this time that the water system is contaminated, though it acknowledged that organisms that cause illness in people may have entered the water supply and that contamination remains a possibility. News 5 Cleveland reported the closure is being tracked live by its transportation reporter, Caitlin Hunt.
What Customers in the Affected Area Should Do
Cleveland Water is advising affected customers to boil water before using it or to use bottled water instead, per the report from Cleveland 19 News. Cold water should be boiled for at least three minutes, and taps used for drinking and cooking should be flushed for at least three minutes as well. Boiled water should be stored in a covered container, preferably in a refrigerator, and boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and preparing food or baby formula.
Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water, but it will not reduce lead, the outlet's report notes. Customers may use a water filter certified to remove lead temporarily, though Cleveland Water recommended boiling water before running it through a filter. The break may also cause discolored water, cloudy water and a temporary increase in lead levels for those in the affected zone.
Surrounding Communities and Health Risks
Cleveland Water said customers in communities surrounding the affected area may experience discolored or cloudy water, but that this water is safe to consume without boiling, the station's report states. Waterborne illness linked to contaminated water may include nausea, vomiting and stomach discomfort, and people with severely compromised immune systems, infants and some elderly people may be at increased risk. Cleveland Water said it will share an update when the advisory is lifted, though no timeline for that has been announced.
The utility's guidance echoes broader EPA recommendations cited in the same report, including running water for 30 seconds to three minutes before drinking or cooking, using cold water for cooking, drinking and preparing baby formula, and running water until there is a noticeable temperature drop after several hours of nonuse. The EPA also recommends cleaning faucet aerators regularly and after any disruption to water service. Per an X post cited in the report, Dan Stamness said Solon Road is fractured between Randolph and Eldridge and that the break affected three communities.
Road Closure and Ongoing Investigation
Solon Road remains closed between Randolph Road and Eldridge Boulevard with no announced reopening time, and the cause of the break is under investigation, according to the Cleveland 19 News report. Cleveland Water defines a boil advisory as a public notice advising customers to boil tap water or use bottled water for any consumption purpose, according to the utility's own customer FAQ page. A city data page notes that Cleveland Water is required by the Ohio EPA to issue such advisories under certain circumstances, though the specific triggers for this event were not detailed in available materials, according to the city's water boil alert dataset. Boil advisories are not unheard of in the region; in January, multiple main breaks triggered a similar advisory for Brunswick residents, as reported by cleveland.com.
