PORTLAND — A boil water order remains in effect as the Town of Portland awaits clearance from the Health Department following the repair of a water leak in the Town on Dahlberg Road.

According to Town of Portland Supervisor Rich Lewis, beginning Monday night into Tuesday morning, the Town of Portland began shutting off water service throughout the region to locate the leak. When service was shut off west of Lake Avenue on Route 5, the Town began to narrow down the issue. From there, the Town went one street at a time until Matthews Road intersected with Dahlberg Road, where it was determined the leak originated.

Tuesday morning, the Town discovered the leak on Dahlberg Road in an area of heavy brush. The site was excavated and a “sizable hole” at the bottom of the pipe was repaired with a clamp.

Although the leak was on Dahlberg Road, both Ellicott Road and Webster Road were also impacted because of elevation. As the water tank lowered, the higher elevation roads were the first to lose pressure.

At some point throughout the night, nearly all of the 1,400 approximate customers of the system were impacted as the Town searched for the leak. However, the only areas impacted for a substantial period of time were customers on Dahlberg Road, Ellicott Road, and Webster Road. Water samples have been taken by the Health Department from the impacted areas.

Any area impacted for three hours or longer is issued a boil water order by the Health Department. The boil water order is in effect until samples are analyzed and the Town receives clearance from the Health Department to lift the order.

Lewis noted Wednesday evening that all necessary repairs have already been completed.