Water main break cuts service in Waynesboro, boil notice issued

A broken 12-inch water main at Broad Street and Main Street left much of Waynesboro and the Zullinger area without water or with very low pressure, prompting a boil-water notice that officials said would last three days. Borough crews isolated the damaged line, but residents were told to boil water for one minute or use bottled water until the advisory is lifted.

Borough Manager Jason Stains said the 911 center got the first call around 2:30 a.m. Emergency units arrived to find the street buckled and water flowing across the area. Stains said the break blew a hole in the side of the main, creating the loss of positive water pressure that raised the risk of microbial contamination in the system.

The Borough of Waynesboro said the shutdown affected most of the borough, including the WTMA service area. Officials also said the break prompted direct coordination with UGI because a gas main runs beside the water line, a safety step that added another layer to the response as crews worked at the downtown intersection.

The borough said it had already been in contact with the hospital, nursing homes and the Waynesboro Area School District as the disruption spread through the community. Local schools delayed classes, and downtown businesses, including restaurants, also felt the impact as water service remained off in the hardest-hit areas.

Officials said water samples would be taken after repairs are completed before the boil-water notice is lifted. Residents with questions were told to call the borough at 717-762-2101, while updates are expected as the repair work moves forward and the system is brought back online safely.