Nearly 6,000 Barberton and Norton students got the day off school Wednesday because of an unfortunately situated water main break between Barber and Clark Mill roads in Norton.
In addition to closing both city school districts and St. Augustine Catholic School in Barberton, the break put all 29,000 customers served by Barberton water — including parts of Coventry Township — on a boil alert.
It could take 24 to 48 hours to repair the leak in the 24-inch water line that feeds from the city’s water treatment plant. Barberton Service Director Mike Vinay said water samples would be analyzed Thursday afternoon.
The line ruptured late Tuesday evening. Just after 3:30 a.m., the water main break was found and a boil alert was issued.
“A rupture such as this has the potential to create negative pressure throughout parts of the City’s water distribution system, which may lead to potential backflow occurrences,” the city said in a news release. “For the safety of Barberton water customers and under certain mandates, a precautionary boil alert has been issued.”
Kenmore Construction Co. is performing emergency repairs.
Area businesses reported that the water main break affected them in only minor ways.
At 1 p.m. Wednesday, Rocky’s Drive Thru on Norton Avenue near Barberton High School reported the water was flowing so the bathrooms remained open, but the boil alert made it necessary to shut off coffee pots and a fountain pop machine.
Owner Shaun Jaber said he had employees drop off three cases of water to a small senior citizen apartment complex on Brady Street, where several residents are regular customers.
“We wanted to make sure they had water to take their medicines,” he said.
Next door to Rocky’s, Dairy Queen staffers said they had to run out to buy bottled pop and water, but the break wasn’t otherwise affecting their business.
On the Norton City Schools website, district officials said all outdoor events would go on as scheduled, but asked participants to bring their own drinking water.
During a boil alert, bring water to a boil for one minute to kill bacteria and organisms. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation.
Barberton’s boil alert was distributed through NIXLE (a text and email service), Facebook and Twitter.
To receive text or email announcements on Barberton boil alerts, road closures, parking bans, safety threats and other emergency news, register at www.nixle.com or text the word “Barberton” to 888777.
Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/paulaschleis.