The town of Cary on Tuesday said water is safe for normal use 24 hours after a 30-inch water main break disrupted service for about 50,000 customers.
"Bacteriological testing following Monday’s 30-inch water main break on N.C. 55 has confirmed that water is safe for normal use," the town said in a 5 a.m. update. "All 14 water samples collected from the affected area were absent of bacteria. Customers may resume normal water use."
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People can run their water for roughly one minute to flush their lines. They were also reminded to throw away any ice or beverages made with tap water during the boil advisory.
The lifting of the system pressure advisory means Cary's spraygrounds and water fountains are back in service. Schools are expected to operate on a normal schedule Tuesday after dozens released students early on Monday due to the break.
Crews began work for a second day around 7 a.m. on Tuesday to fully fix the water main break.
Schools to operate on normal schedule
The Wake County Public School System said all impacted schools will operate on a normal schedule Tuesday after the town lifted the system pressure advisory.
Several schools dismissed early on Monday after the water main break was reported.
Repair work continues Tuesday on NC 55
A segment of N.C. 55 was closed for several hours on Monday before the road reopened between the Jenks Road/Old Jenks Road intersection and the Lewey Drive/Turner Creek Road intersection. Some lane closures will continue Tuesday as crews finish repairs.
Drivers should be cautious when passing through the area, as crews remain on site.
"It is in a growing area of town, which means we changed the configuration on it some, and that could have played an impact," said Jamie Revels of the Cary Utilities Department.
Revels said the waterline is made of iron pipes and that while they are about 35 years old, they are within their lifespan.
"That is something we'll certainly be investigating as we get more in-depth after we complete the repair," he said.
A photo from the WRAL Breaking News Tracker before sunrise on Monday showed part of an embankment washed away near a drainage structure, with soil and concrete covering the road.
Katerinea Sarafera, a parent in the district, picked up her children from school on Monday and told WRAL the town didn't notify her or other parents about the impacts of the water main break.
"They had an early dismissal at 12 p.m.," Sarafera said.
Town officials say all measures are precautionary, so they notified the public via press release and social media.
Many businesses along Chatham Street in downtown Cary remained open Monday but provided bottled water to customers. Max Woodson, the shift manager of the Milkshake Factory, said his shop operated on a limited menu but could not use water to wash dishes.
