AKRON, Ohio — The City of Akron has announced that it has lifted its precautionary boil water advisory for parts of Akron, Copley, and Fairlawn as of Wednesday at 6:05 p.m.
The advisory was put into place on Monday following a reduction in water pressure. Water testing completed over the last 24 hours confirmed that the drinking water is safe. The city says it has restored pressures in the affected areas.
The Environmental Protection Agency requires cities to perform testing over a 24-hour period to ensure that drinking water is safe before a precautionary boil water advisory can be lifted.
The low water pressures were a result of a 36" water main that was taken out of service for repairs that caused the significant drop in water pressures in those communities.
When water pressures are lowered in these instances, there can be a discoloration of water and a temporary increase in lead levels in the water.
The US EPA recommends following these steps to reduce possible lead exposure in drinking water:
- If water has not been used for several hours, run the tap until there is a noticeable temperature drop. Then, run water for 30 seconds to 3 minutes before using it for drinking and cooking. This helps flush water that may have contained lead that may have leached from plumbing
- Use cold water for cooking, drinking, and preparing baby formula. Boiling the water will not reduce lead
- Clean your faucet aerator regularly
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