Home Services Public Works Utility Division Water Production & Distribution Precautionary Boil Orders

Precautionary Boil Orders

Water system repairs are required from time to time, and in some cases it is necessary to shut down the water main to make the repairs. A precautionary boil order is issued when this occurs. Residents or businesses affected will receive a RED LETTER NOTICE. The precautionary boil order remains in effect until laboratory sampling confirms the water is safe. Once the water sample have tested clear of coliforms, residents or businesses affected will receive a second notification GREEN LETTER stating the precautionary boil order has been lifted. Customers in the area who experienced the service outage should boil water for at least five (5) minutes before using for cooking or drinking.

*Please note for large scale precautionary boil orders, CodeRed and City news alerts will be used to notify the area.

EXAMPLES OF NOTICE LETTER

RED NOTICE: PRECAUTIONARY BOIL ORDER IN AFFECT
GREEN NOTICE: PRECAUTIONARY BOILING WATER NO LONGER REQUIRED
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS UNDER A PRECAUTIONARY BOIL ORDER
What does a precautionary boil order mean?

It means that there has been an incident that has caused the water system to become acceptable to outside contaminates. As a precaution, the City is notifying the affected area to take precautions and if possible not use the water that comes out of the tap for drinking, brushing your teeth, cooking or washing fruits and vegetables. You should use bottled water for these activities.

How long should I boil my water for?

The affected tap water should be brought to a rolling boil for 5 minutes before being used.

Why has the precautionary boil issued?

A precautionary boil order has been issued by your water system because of water system maintenance needing to be completed. When the water system pressure drops below 20psi there is a possibility that organisms outside the pipe may infiltrate the water system and could cause illness (e.g., fecal or E. coli bacteria), or technical/physical problems in the water system have significantly increased the possibility of bacterial contamination.

Below is a list of precautionary boil orders that have been posted within the last 30 days.

Description	Location	Date Issued	Date Lifted
Please be advised that on 11/11/2023 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division made repairs to a broken water main on Geneva and First Ave. It required a shutdown to the water main and a precautionary boil order to be issued. (22) Residents were affected and have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected residents. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab this morning.	Geneva St.	11/11/23	11/12/23
Please be advised that on 11/10/2023 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division made repairs to a broken water main on Lexington St. between Poplar Ave and Cedar Ave. It required a shutdown to the water main and a precautionary boil order to be issued. (12) Residents were affected and have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected residents. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab this morning.	Lexington St.	11/10/23	11/11/23
Please be advised that on 11/7/23 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division performed a scheduled shutdown of the water main in order to replace a damaged fire hydrant that was struck by a vehicle. Due to the shutdown, a precautionary boil order was issued. The shutdown occurred on W. Carol Lane between Church Rd. and Weigel Dr. Affected residents and businesses were given advanced notification of the timing of the shutdown. (1) resident and (5) businesses were affected and have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of addresses. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab.	Carol Ln.	11/7/23	11/8/23
Please be advised that on 10/30/2023 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division made repairs to a broken water main on Hillside Ave between Adams St. and Jackson St. It required a shutdown to the water main and a precautionary boil order to be issued. (24) Residents were affected and have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected residents. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab in the morning.	Hillside Ave.	10/30/23	11/1/23
Please be advised that on 10/12/2023 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division made repairs to a broken water main on Lorraine Ave between West Ave and Garden Ave. It required a shutdown to the water main and a precautionary boil order to be issued. (26) Residents were affected and have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected residents. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab.	Lorraine Ave.	10/12/23	10/13/23
Please be advised that on 9/29/2023 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division made repairs to a broken water main on Edgewood Ave between Vallette St. and Crescent Ave. It required a shutdown to the water main and a precautionary boil order to be issued. (25) Residents were affected and have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected residents. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab.	Edgewood Ave.	9/29/23	9/30/23
Please be advised that on 9/28/2023 a water main shutdown occurred on Armitage Ave between Maple Ave and Addison Ave as part of the Lake Street water main project. Contractor Mauro Sewer and Water is making the final service connections and disconnects from the old water main. Due to the shutdown to the water main a precautionary boil order was issued. (5) Residents were affected and have been notified ahead of time of the scheduled shut down. Residents have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected addresses. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab.	Armitage Ave.	9/28/23	9/29/23
Please be advised that on 9/27/2023 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division made emergency repairs to a leaking valve on Oakland Grove between Alexander Blvd and Thomas St. It required an emergency shutdown to the water main and a precautionary boil order to be issued. (17) Residents were affected. All residents have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected residents. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab.	Oakland Grove	9/27/23	9/28/23
Please be advised that on 9/26/2023 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division will be making repairs to a broken water main on Alexander Blvd between Pick Ave and Oakland Grove. It required an emergency shutdown to the water main and a precautionary boil order to be issued. (12) Residents were affected and have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected residents. Water samples will be collected after repairs are completed and delivered to the lab.	Alexander Blvd.	9/26/23	9/28/23
Please be advised that on 9/23/2023 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division made repairs to a broken water main at 15W040 Concord St. It required a shutdown to the water main and a precautionary boil order to be issued. (4) Residents were affected and have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected residents. Water samples were collected and will be delivered to the lab on Monday morning.	Concord St.	9/23/23	9/26/23
Please be advised that on 9/21/2023 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division made repairs to a broken water main on Fern Ave between Niagara Ave and Crescent Ave. It required a shutdown to the water main and a precautionary boil order to be issued. (15) Residents were affected and have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected residents. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab as soon as repairs are completed	Fern Ave.	9/21/23	9/22/23
Please be advised that on 9/20/2023 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division made repairs to a broken water main on S Linden Ave between Niagara Ave and Crescent Ave. It required a shutdown to the water main and a precautionary boil order to be issued. (15) Residents were affected and have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected residents. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab as soon as repairs are completed.	S. Linden Ave.	9/20/23	9/21/23
Please be advised that on 9/13/2023 a scheduled water main shutdown occurred on Haven Rd. between Schiller St. and First St. for the Vyne on Haven construction project. The contractor is installing a fire hydrant and making the connection to the existing water main. Due to the shutdown to the water main a precautionary boil order was issued. (9) Residents were affected and were given advanced notice of the scheduled shutdown. Residents have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected addresses. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab.	Haven Rd.	9/13/23	9/14/23
Please be advised that on 9/7/2023 a water main shutdown occurred on Armitage Ave between Maple Ave and Addison Ave as part of the Lake Street water main project. Contractor Mauro Sewer and Water is making the connection of the newly installed main to the existing water main. Due to the shut down to the water main a precautionary boil order was issued. (5) Residents were affected and have been notified ahead of time of the scheduled shut down. Residents have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected addresses. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab.	Armitage Ave.	9/7/2023	9/8/2023
Please be advised that on 9/5/2023 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division made repairs to a broken water main in the intersection of Hillcrest Ave and Harrison St. It required an emergency shutdown to the water main and a precautionary boil order to be issued. (6) Residents were affected. All residents have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected residents. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab.	Harrison St.	9/5/2023	9/6/2023
Please be advised that on 9/5/2023 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division made repairs to a broken water main at 890 Cadwell Ave. It required a shut down to the water main and a precautionary boil order to be issued. (11) Residents were affected. All residents have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected residents. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab.	Caldwell	9/5/2023	9/6/2023
Please be advised that on 9/3/2023 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division made repairs to a broken water main at 924 Stratford Lane. It required an emergency shutdown to the water main and a precautionary boil order to be issued. (32) Residents were affected between Butterfield and Harrison. All residents have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab.		9/3/2023	9/5/2023
Please be advised that on 8/25/2023 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division made repairs to a broken water main on Commonwealth Ln between Beverly Ave and Sunset Ave. It required an emergency shut down to the water main and a precautionary boil order to be issued.(43) Residents were affected and have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab.	Commonwealth Lane	8/25/2023	8/26/2023
Please be advised that on 8/25/2023 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division made repairs to a broken water main on the dead end of W Fullerton Ave off Walnut St. It required an emergency shut down to the water main and a precautionary boil order to be issued. (4) Residents were affected and have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected residents. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab.	Fullerton Ave	8/25/2023	8/26/2023
Please be advised that on 8/22/23 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division performed a scheduled shutdown of the water main in order to replace a damaged fire hydrant. Due to the shutdown, a precautionary boil order was issued. The shutdown occurred on Huntington Lane between Fair Ave and Park Ave. Affected residents of the shutdown were given advanced notification when the shutdown was to occur. (12) residents were affected and were notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of addresses. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab.	Huntington Lane	8/22/2023	8/23/2023
Please be advised that on 8/17/2023 a water main shutdown occurred on W Lake St (Frontage Rd) between Walnut St and Maple Ave as part of the Lake Street water main project. Contractor Mauro Sewer and Water is making the connection of the newly installed main to the existing water main. Due to the shutdown of the water main, a precautionary boil order was issued. (3) Businesses were affected and have been notified ahead of time of the scheduled shutdown. Attached is a map of the affected businesses. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab.	W. Lake St.	8/17/2023	8/18/2023
Please be advised that on 8/1/2023 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division made repairs to a broken water main on S Poplar Ave between Adams St. and Van Buren St. It required an emergency shutdown to the water main and a precautionary boil order to be issued. (19) Residents were affected and have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected residents. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab.	S. Poplar Ave.	8/1/2023	8/3/2023
Please be advised that on 7/31/23 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division performed a scheduled shutdown of the water main in order to replace a service valve. Due to the shutdown, a precautionary boil order was issued. The shutdown occurred on N York St between Crestview Ave Gladys Ave. Affected residents were given advanced notification to the timing of the shutdown. (24) residents were affected and were notified in person or by a red notice on their door.	N. York St.	7/31/2023	8/1/2023
Just north of the Poplar and Cayuga intersection is a water main break. The severity of this break is high with an extensive amount of system water loss that affected a large number of residents. An initial press release was put out to notify residents. City crews have isolated the break location. City water pressures and tank levels have returned to normal operating levels. With the sudden loss of pressure, a boil order is being issued from Butterfield north to the UP train tracks, and from York Rd east to 294. Contractors have been called in to repair the broken water main. City crews will be onsite of the repair location and out flushing fire hydrants as safety protocol and precautions. Crews will also be taking numerous water samples throughout the affected area. This area will remain under a boil order until further notice.	Poplar Ave.	7/5/2023	7/9/2023
Please be advised that on 6/7/2023 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division made repairs to a broken water main on Cedar Ave between Niagara Ave and Crescent Ave. It required a shutdown to the water main and a precautionary boil order to be issued. (14) Residents were affected and have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected residents. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab this morning. Notification will occur when results are received from the Lab.	Cedar Ave.	6/7/2023	6/9/2023
Please be advised that on 5/29/2022 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division made repairs to a broken water main on Lorraine Ave between Garden Ave and West Ave. It required a shutdown to the water main and a precautionary boil order to be issued. (30) Residents were affected and have been notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of the affected residents. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab this morning. Notification will occur when results are received from the Lab.	Lorraine Ave.	05/30/2023	05/31/202
Please be advised that on 5/23/23 the City of Elmhurst Public Works Utilities Division performed a scheduled shutdown of the water main in order to upgrade a fire hydrant as part of the Hydrant Replacement Program. Due to the shutdown, a precautionary boil order was issued. The shutdown occurred on Saylor Ave between Adams St. and Madison St. Affected residents were given advanced notification to the timing of the shutdown. (20) residents were affected and were notified in person or by a red notice on their door. Attached is a map of addresses. Water samples will be collected and delivered to the lab. Notification will occur when results are received from the lab.	Saylor Ave.	05/23/2023	05/23/2023