CLAY TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A boil water advisory has been issued for Harsens Island after a water main break left residents without water for multiple days.
On Dec. 12, an underwater main break occurred, and officials believed it happened somewhere in the North Channel near Harsens Island, which is located in Lake St. Clair.
This completely shut off water service to Harsens Island, and Clay Township officials declared a state of emergency due to the break.
A dive team located the break on Friday afternoon about 150 feet from the shore, in about eight feet of water, according to St. Clair County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Justin Westmiller.
Efforts to repair the fracture began.
On Saturday, Dec. 14, Clay Township officials released another update and alerted residents that when water pressure is restored they should boil the water before using it.
“Water will be flowing if it isn’t already very soon,” Westmiller said in a Facebook post on Sunday night. “The fix is complete and they are currently purging and testing for pressure.”
Whenever a water system loses pressure for a significant amount of time, precautionary methods are recommended as bacteria could be present in the water.
Until the flushing procedures are complete, residents can expect air, discolored water and a chlorine smell from the tap.
Residents should use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, brushing their teeth, washing dishes and preparing food until further notice.
Clay Township officials said on Saturday that they expected the boil water advisory to be in effect for at least a week. Residents can visit the Clay Township website for the latest updates on the boil water advisory.
When water sampling meets the standards for drinking water, the advisory will be lifted, and residents will be notified.
Anyone with questions about the boil water advisory can call the Clay Township Water Department at 810-794-3475 or the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) at 586-504-7163.
