Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: December 26, 2007
Contact: Carol Hall-Walker, HEALTH Public Information Officer, 401-639-5137
Steve Preston, Woonsocket EMA Public Information Officer, 401-265-0944

Woonsocket Water Department Issues Precautionary Boil Water Advisory In Diamond Hill Road Area

The City of Woonsocket Water Division has issued the following advisory:

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

A water main break in the Diamond Hill High Service section of the City is causing water service interruptions and dirty water in the areas serviced by the Diamond Hill Tank. The areas affected are bordered by Elder Ballou Meeting House Road from MacArthur Road East to Bound Road. Also included is Bound Road North to the Bellingham, MA line and Diamond Hill Road from the Cumberland line to Mendon Road. Pine Crest Drive off of Mendon Road is also affected. The area includes all residential streets accessed from Elder Ballou Meeting House Road, Bound Road and Diamond Hill Road in the affected area .

The Water Division is in the process of locating the water line break and will make an announcement when the work has been completed. Further updates will be released as work progresses.

As a precaution the Water Division advises residents in the affected areas to rapidly boil any water used for drinking or cooking for a minimum of 1 minute until further notice. Residents residing in the affected area may be without water for up to a 24-hour period while the main is being repaired. Bacteria sampling will be conducted in the Diamond Hill Service area after repairs are completed. There is no confirmation of bacterial contamination in the water supply and there are no reports of disease at this time.

Please report any unusual water flow or water flowing out of the ground that is not normally visible at this time of year. Please call 401-767-1410 with any information.

The Department of Health is working closely with the City of Woonsocket Water Division to monitor the situation. For updates the public may call the Water Treatment Plant at 401-767-1410 or the Woonsocket City Hall, 401-762-6400 and/or go to the Department of Health website www.health.ri.gov Any individual who has been in contact with, or consumed water from this system, and is experiencing any unusual symptoms is urged to contact their physician or go to the Emergency Room.