Anyone in a home or business west of U.S. 31 in Franklin is being told to vigorously boil their water for at least one full minute today due to a water main break.
About 2,700 homes and businesses are affected, including three Franklin schools, Indiana American Water operations superintendent Ron Ballard said.
Indiana American Water is working to fix the problem, caused when a hydrant was hit, but is warning residents and workers that the water could be contaminated with bacteria, according to a news release.
The homes and businesses affected are on the west side of U.S. 31, from Commerce Drive to the Franklin Lakes neighborhood, Ballard said.
Franklin Community High School, Custer Baker Intermediate School and Creekside Elementary are staying open, and all students and staff have bottled water, superintendent David Clendening said.
“We are prepared for this situation and the school day will not be affected,” the school district said in a news release.
All customers received a phone call alerting them to the boil water advisory this morning, and will receive another call when the order ends, which is expected to be on Saturday morning, Ballard said.
All water customers in this area should continue vigorously boiling their water. For example, water should be boiled before it is used to wash hands or make drinks.
Other parts of Franklin are not affected, Ballard said.
A hydrant at the Shell station just north of Walmart on U.S. 31 was hit by a vehicle between 6 and 6:30 a.m. on Friday, causing the water main break, Ballard said.
Crews have repaired the break and are now working to replace the hydrant, he said.
