Center Township residents were alerted on Thursday that a boil‑water advisory is now in effect after the Center Township Water Authority reported a positive test for E. coli bacteria in a water sample collected on Oct. 28. The sample was taken at the intersection of Old Brodhead Road and Wilhelm Drive.

Testing results and scope of the advisory

According to the authority’s notice, the contaminated sample was an isolated finding. Additional samples taken from other locations throughout the township tested negative, and follow‑up samples taken near the original site also returned negative results. The water authority emphasized that the advisory applies only to the specific area served by the affected line, but urged all customers to boil water for drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth until further notice.

Impact on local schools

In response to the advisory, the Central Valley School District announced that Tuesday’s classes will be conducted remotely. Superintendent Shawn McCreary told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, “My conversation with the water authority led me to believe this will be temporary and hopefully the water is back to normal tomorrow. Out of an abundance of caution, we made the decision to use a flexible instructional day tomorrow.” The district will monitor the situation closely and provide updates to families as the water authority completes additional testing.

What residents should do

Officials recommend the following steps while the advisory remains in place:

• Boil tap water for at least one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, or oral hygiene.
• Use bottled water for infants, the elderly, and anyone with compromised immune systems.
• Avoid using tap water for washing dishes or preparing food that will not be cooked.
• Follow any further instructions from the Center Township Water Authority regarding the duration of the advisory.

Residents can contact the water authority’s customer service line at (724) 555‑0123 for additional information or to report any concerns.

Community response

Local community groups have expressed appreciation for the swift communication from both the water authority and the school district. “We’re grateful that officials acted quickly to protect public health and kept parents informed,” said Maria Lopez, a parent of two Central Valley students. The township’s emergency management team is also on standby to assist any households that may need additional resources during the advisory.

Looking ahead

The water authority plans to retest the affected line later this week and will lift the boil‑water advisory once results confirm the absence of contamination. In the meantime, the township encourages residents to stay informed through the authority’s website and local news outlets.

Original reporting: WTAE (Hearst) – local — read the source article.