Du Quoin's water tower drains quickly as repair crew keeps fingers crossed; City of Du Quoin and Old Du Quoin customers go on boil order quickly

A Rend Lake repair crew raced through the night to repair a break in the large water line from the intercity water system to the Du Quoin water tower.

Reports differ as to whether it is an 18-inch water main or a 24-inch water main.

The problem began unfolding around 3 p.m. during the excavation of some brush and debris in the Old Du Quoin bottoms where the line passes before it gets to Du Quoin.

The plan is for a bypass water line through that area as a backup for an aging line, parts of which run through water.

During that work a piece of machinery broke through the water line. Du Quoin's water meter told Rend Lake and the Du Quoin water department that the line had a failure as pressure dropped slightly.

As the night wore on, the town had to rely on the water tower and an emergency underground storage tank on North Division Street.

But, those reserves were being depleted as the night wore on.

The best outcome is that the repair was completed overnight. The worst outcome was the fear that the reserves would run dry.

City of Du Quoin waterworks and sewerage system superintendent Chris Lacy has issued a boil order for a portion of the City of Du Quoin water system effective immediately until such order is lifted. The users of the City of Du Quoin water system affected are:

The entire City of Du Quoin & Old Du Quoin.

Repair work is being done on the lines in these areas. Therefore this boil order is required. As soon as the environmental protection agency approves tests made on the water, radio station WDQN and the newspapers, Du Quoin evening call and The Southern Illinoisan will be notified that the boil order has been lifted. The City of Du Quoin thanks you for your cooperation in this emergency.