Published: May 26, 2009 11:26 pm         

Water main break puts Brazil under boil order until Friday morning

Some schools have low water pressure, students released early

TERRE HAUTE — Friday is the earliest a boil order can be lifted for the City of Brazil.

An 18-inch water line break was repaired Tuesday morning, but water samples must be submitted today and Thursday to the State Board of Health for approval.

"We hope to hear back from the state on Friday," said assistant water superintendent Shawnette Szekely.

The line break occurred between the well field in western Putnam County and the water treatment plant at Harmony. The cause of the break was not immediately known.

Brazil residents were asked to conserve water on Monday after the break was discovered. While the treatment plant was offline, the city's water tower still had water available.

By early Tuesday, however, all treated water had been depleted in the tower and the treatment plant. The treatment plant was back online treating city water Tuesday, but most city residents experienced low water pressure.

The Brazil Water Works serves 4,400 customers in the city, and also sells water to the nearby towns of Harmony, Knightsville, Carbon and Center Point.

Due to the low water pressure at some schools Tuesday, all schools in the Clay Community School Corp. were dismissed early. The busing system requires all schools to be released so student transfers can be made.

A school district spokesperson said school would resume today as usual, pending good water pressure. The last day of school in the district is Thursday.