A boil water order in Skokie was lifted Sunday evening, according to an update from village officials, after laboratory tests confirmed tap water was safe to drink and use for cooking and hygiene.
Samples from 70 locations in the village had been tested to ensure they met quality standards set by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
Officials said earlier in the day that a pipe at the burst water main had been replaced, but that work was ongoing at the site.
“The pipe will be placed back into service after water quality lab results are received,” the village wrote in a Sunday morning update to residents, noting that the affected portion of the water system had been isolated. The village had asked residents to avoid unnecessary water use to help restore the water system.
As of Sunday evening, water pressure throughout Skokie’s system continued to improve. After the boil order was lifted, village officials recommended residents remove air and flush sediments from water pipes.
This can be done by removing faucet aerators from cold water taps, and beginning in the lowest level of a home, running cold water full force through all taps, including bathtubs and showers. At the last tap on the top floor, let the water run for five minutes. Then turn off each tap starting with those at the highest level. Faucet aerators can become clogged when interior piping is drained, so they should be cleaned too.
After flushing taps, homeowners can run a washing machine and dishwasher on empty for one cycle before using them for the best water quality. Residents are also encouraged to replace the drinking water filter in refrigerators.
The boil order went into place Friday morning following a burst water main at East Prairie Road and Emerson Street. The village told residents to boil any drinking water for at least five minutes, then let it cool before consuming it or using it for brushing teeth, washing dishes, making ice or cooking to kill bacteria.
Skokie residents spent hours Friday trying to prevent water from damaging their properties as homes faced flooding following the burst. Some Skokie businesses were also unable to run their normal operations due to the boil order, forcing them to close Friday. Advisories were handed out for both restaurants and nonfood-based businesses to help them continue operations during the order.
For residents with damaged properties, officials are preparing to seek federal and state disaster assistance. Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen and Village Manager John Lockerby have requested an emergency declaration related to the burst. Residents are also urged to contact the village to help track damage claims.
On Thursday, the village’s public works department was conducting an emergency repair from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., but officials played down the connection between Thursday’s repairs and the burst.
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“They certainly didn’t leave the scene with the water event that we found ourselves confronted with this morning, so I wouldn’t expect that there’s a correlation other than there was a leak of some more minor type going on,” Skokie Public Works Director Max Slankard said at a Friday news conference.
Skokie Public Works can be contacted with additional questions at 847-933-8427. On Monday, phones will be open from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. despite the holiday.