Boil order lifted after water main break

GREEN BAY - A boil order has been lifted for residents on Green Bay’s east side after a water line ruptured.

The break in the 36 inch pipe happened Saturday morning near Bader and East Mason.

It forced residents living east of Bader St. and Danz Ave. to boil their water.

• Photos: Green Bay water main break

It pumped almost eight million gallons of water out in the area of Bader Street and East Mason Street.  

Now, people in that neighborhood are relieved the order has ended.

In Marianne Pigeon's kitchen, the sign said it all.

"Drink only bottled water," said Marianne Pigeon, Green Bay.

For three days, she and her family have used only boiled or bottled water.

"Of course it's drastic. Nobody wants to get sick, but they cautioned and said this is just precautionary, but we didn't want to drink it anyway, so we did go and purchase water," said Pigeon.

The Green Bay Water Utility ordered tests. Two consecutive days of clean water were needed to lift the ban.

"The test we use was a bacteriological. And it's a pretty much pass/fail, and fortunately we passed," said Bill Nabak, Green Bay Water Utility general manager.

The water main broke early Saturday morning spewing an estimated 7 to 8 million gallons of water, and disrupting traffic on East Mason Street.

"I've been in this utility for 40 years, and I've never seen anything quite like this," said Nabak.

Crews have already replaced the pipe, and expect it to be in service by the weekend.

Utility officials say they are looking for a cause. They say the pipe may have been damaged during previous construction.

"There was actually a hole blown in this thin cylinder. It kind of looked like you would cut into the side of a tin can," said Nabak.

The road will need to be repaired as well. Officials say East Mason could be open by the weekend.

People in this neighborhood say they can live with the detour, as long as the water is back on.

"That's great. I'm going to be able to cook normal today. I love it," said Pigeon.

Officials from the water utility have contacted a specialist to examine the damaged pipe.

Results could take three weeks.