Water main breaks affect Perkins Twp.

PERKINS TWP. — Two water main breaks on Columbus Avenue affected many people in Perkins Township. Just after 5 p.m. Thursday, first responders were alerted to a water main break on Columbus Avenue near Woodlawn Avenue. They arrived to find copious amounts of water spewing from the ground and into the northbound lane of Columbus and the eastern boulevard. Perkins police blocked off that lane at Woodlawn Avenue while southbound traffic was maintained. Drivers who were northbound on Columbus from Strub Road turned eastbound down DeWitt Avenue or Woodlawn. Crews from Erie County's Water Division arrived to address the situation. The Erie County Sheriff's Office posted on social media about the break, saying that crews were expected to be on location until 4 a.m. on Friday. Both lanes of Columbus Avenue traffic were eventually closed so crews could work safely. Just before 11 p.m., the Columbus Avenue closure was extended to Lakeland Avenue, as a second main line ruptured. The breaks caused low water pressure throughout Perkins Township as well as parts of Oxford and Groton townships, according to numerous posts on social media. When water crews attempted to repressurize the line after completing repairs, a line that feeds the Erie County Jail ruptured. The jail will use bottled water for at least the next day. Perkins Schools announced on Thursday that classes were canceled for Friday due to the water main break. As of Friday morning, all repairs are completed. Residents of Perkins, Oxford and Groton townships are encouraged to boil water for one to two minutes before drinking, cooking, making ice or brushing teeth, according to the Erie County Health Department. Residents should continue this practice for at least 24 hours. Meanwhile, many local businesses couldn't operate on Friday, closing their doors to the public, because of the boil advisory. The boil advisory will be lifted as soon as testing reveals that all samples are free of bacteria. Updates on the status of the advisory will be available on the health department's social media pages.