CHICAGO — The entire University of Chicago campus and nearby residents are under an order to boil tap water after an installed water main was not properly flushed before being into use Friday.
In a release sent Saturday, affected areas include most of U. of C. campus, business and residential buildings in the area extending from 56th Street in the north to 59th Street in the south, and from Dorchester Avenue in the east to Cottage Grove Avenue in the west. The release was sent by Marlon Lynch, U. of C. Associate Vice President for Safety, Security and Civic Affairs
The order was issued Saturday morning and will remain in effect until at least Sunday morning as quality tests are performed, according to the release.
On Friday, a contractor working for the city's Department of Water Management was performing a water main installation in the 1100 block of East 57th Street. The water main was not properly flushed before being connected and put into service, according to the release.
Later Friday, the Department of Water Management worked to properly flush and sanitize the new main. But to be certain that this does not produce a safety issue, the Department issued a boil order.
Under a boil order, water must be heated to a rolling boil for at least five minutes before it can be consumed. The order applies to water for drinking, making ice cubes, washing foods, washing dishes, brushing teeth, or any other activity involving consumption of water.
For more information, residents and members of the University community can call the City of Chicago's non-emergency number at 311 or 312-744-5000.
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