Major water main break reported in Fayetteville

The outage affected about 75 percent of the city's customers, Hinson said. 

It is unknown what caused the 48-inch water main rupture. 

Health inspectors shut down many restaurants early due to the break. 

“Everything was fine until about six o’clock then (water pressure) started running low,” said Victor Kalevase, of Brick Oven Grill. 

By 9 p.m., water pressure was returning to the system and tanks were filling up, Hinson said. It would take several hours to fully restore service.

Cumberland County Schools will operate on a two-hour delay on Friday due to the break, officials announced late Thursday. Central Services will be on a regular schedule. 

PWC water customers west of the Cape Fear River, excluding the immediate downtown Fayetteville area, are advised to boil their water through Sunday morning. Water used for activities, such as drinking, cooking, making ice and brushing teeth, should be boiled for five minutes prior to use. 

Authorities will be conducting tests to ensure the water is safe, Hinson said. 

Customers living in a half-mile radius of downtown Fayetteville and those east of the Cape Fear River, including Stedman, Eastover and Cedar, are not affected or advised to boil water.