Boil Water Advisory in place following water main break in Caldwell Co.

LENOIR, NC (WBTV) - Repairs have been completed to a 24-inch main water line that left residents in Caldwell County, including the city of Lenoir, with little to no water through the night and early Wednesday morning.

The break occurred at the intersection of Andrews Circle and Connelly Springs Road and affected approximately 20,000 residents, according to a news release from Caldwell County.

Repairs were completed just before 6 a.m.

The City of Lenoir has issued a boil water advisory due to the broken water main that is now repaired.

Radford Thomas, Director of Lenoir Public Utilities Department, said crews are going around opening up fire hydrants now to release the air pressure that built up while repairs were underway.

Thomas is asking residents in the affected areas to turn water faucets on in their house NOW to release the air pressure in the pipes to their homes.

Thomas says the first water to come through their faucets will likely be dingy but is safe to use. Water should begin flowing by 7 a.m. or so to the homes.

Caldwell County Public Schools will operate on a three-hour delay as there are several schools in the affected area.

The Connelly Springs Road will remain closed to all but local traffic this morning Pleasant Hill Road to Clarks Chapel Road in order for the repair holes to be filled.

Commuters are being asked to take an alternate route if the Connelly Springs Road is their regular route.

The water line damage occurred when crews laying fiber optic cable on the Connelly Springs Road hit a fire hydrant and knocked it loose around lunch time Tuesday.

Crews were attempting repairs when the fire hydrant leg broke completely free from the main water line around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

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