Norristown Area Residents Urged to Boil Drinking Water

by KYW's Al Novack

Thousands of customers of the Pennsylvania American Water Company were being asked to boil their water before using it.

The precaution was being taken due to a problem that developed overnight Monday at a local pumping station.

Pennsylvania American Water customers in the Norristown region of Montgomery County -- including Norristown, East Norriton, Whitpain, and Worcester townships -- are being asked to boil water for one minute, strictly as a precaution, according to spokesperson Susan Turkmanovich:

"Customers who woke up with no water are being asked to boil their water."

She says the problem was prompted by a power outage at a booster pump station. That problem has been repaired.

Boiling the water would kill any bacteria that may have collected in the  idled part of the system during the repairs. Turkmanovich says the precaution will only be necessary for 24 hours -- until Wednesday morning.

Again, customers in the affected area need to boil water for one minute before drinking it, brusing their teeth, or using it for food preparation.