Post Falls emergency water shutdown repairs broken main; four connections affected

City of Post Falls Water Division crews carried out an emergency shutdown to repair a broken potable water line that interrupted service to four connections in the area between North Compton Street and West Mullan Avenue. The outage affected community anchors including the Post Falls Library, the Post Falls Boys and Girls Club and Post Falls School District offices, and service was restored the same afternoon.

The shutdown occurred on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 27, 2026, when city crews developed a repair plan, notified impacted customers and executed a targeted repair. Coeur d’Alene Press reported the actual outage lasted about ten minutes, and that service was returned by 4:30 p.m. City messaging and local coverage emphasized rapid coordination so essential services could prepare before crews isolated the line.

KXLY published a city-issued map of the outage area and noted that customers in the affected area were being notified directly. "Customers in the affected area are being notified directly, and the city has released a map showing the outage boundaries near the intersection of North Compton Street and West Mullan Avenue," KXLY reported, crediting the City of Post Falls for the visual. KXLY also relayed the advisory that "Residents without water service are advised to store water for essential needs."

Post Falls Utilities Manager Craig Borrenpohl praised the teamwork during the repair window. He "shared appreciation for the quick coordination between the water division, Post Falls School District, Boys and Girls Club, Post Falls Library and impacted residents while the repair work was completed." That coordination, officials said, helped limit disruption to programs and administrative operations tied to the three named institutions.

The interruption was narrowly localized to four service connections and did not expand into a wider communitywide outage. City staff posted the emergency notification to social channels as they worked, and media outlets relayed the map and timing to help neighbors determine whether their properties fell inside the small outage footprint.

This incident follows a history of regional utility cooperation: in November 2025, City of Post Falls crews assisted Rathdrum crews after a contractor struck a sewer force main. That prior event underscores how municipal agencies often provide mutual aid during infrastructure emergencies, but the January water-main repair was separate and limited to potable service at a handful of connections.

What this means for Kootenai County residents is twofold: localized infrastructure failures can be fixed quickly when city crews coordinate with schools and nonprofits, but even brief outages can disrupt programs that serve children and families. Residents in the affected area should monitor official City of Post Falls communications for any follow-up advisories or testing results and contact city utilities if they experienced lingering problems after service returned.