A boil alert is in effect for a portion of Cleveland’s East Side and seven eastern suburbs after a water main break in Shaker Heights.The Cleveland Water Department issued the alert on Monday after discovering the break in a 30-inch water main on Van Aken Boulevard near Ashby Road. The water department expects the boil alert will remain in effect through Wednesday, Oct. 16.“Organisms that cause illness in people may have entered the water supply,” according to the water department’s website.“The affected area is for Cleveland Water customers in parts of Lyndhurst, South Euclid, University Heights, Shaker Heights, Highland Hills, Warrensville Heights, North Randall, and a portion of the East Side of Cleveland.”You can check this map to see if you are in the affected area.Can I still use my water?If you are in the affected area, do not drink the water or use it to brush your teeth without flushing the tap and boiling it first. You can use the water to take a shower.Cleveland Water recommends taking the following steps:If possible, remove aerator screens from faucets.Flush all taps used for drinking and cooking for at least 3 minutes. Fill a clean pot or kettle with COLD water.Bring water to a rolling boil and let it boil for at least 3 minutes.Let the water cool before using.Store boiled water in a container covered with a lid and, if possible, in the refrigerator.Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation until further notice.The EPA offers additional information, including general guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes or lead exposure through their Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1(800) 426-4791 or visit Drinktap.org and www.epa.gov/safewaterMy street is not on the boil alert map but my water is yellow — what should I do?The broken water main does not run directly to homes and businesses. It does transport water to lines that directly service water customers.According to Cleveland Water’s Facebook page, customers outside the affected area may see discolored water coming out of their taps. The department says, “The water is safe to drink.” But it also recommends “running all cold water taps for 15 minutes before using.“How long will this take to fix?Residents living near the break tell Signal Cleveland water quickly filled the street. Portions of Van Aken Boulevard and some side streets were closed until the water receded. Shuttle buses are replacing RTA Blue Line trains between Shaker Square and the Warrensville/Van Aken station until further notice.On its website, the water department says it is “taking the necessary steps to correct the problem as soon as possible.”Northeast Ohio experienced quite a few water main breaks this past winter, according to our partners at News 5. Aging water systems are a challenge for cities nationwide. The publication Popular Science cites a 2021 report from the American Society of Civil Engineers that estimates there is a water main break every two minutes in the United States. The cost for replacing all the pipes in the country before they reach the end of their life will be over $1 trillion. Breaks of 30-inch mains are more rare.Making the best of itOne resident tried to make the best of a difficult situation.Brenna Cook, captured this video of a neighbor who decided to have a little fun in the water.The post Cleveland Water issues a boil alert for several communities: Here’s what that means appeared first on Signal Cleveland.First published by Signal Cleveland.