Bottled water distributed as water main break affects shopping, dining in central Pa.

Some popular shopping and dining locations in eastern Cumberland County closed Saturday after Pennsylvania American Water announced a water main break in their Mechanicsburg system on Friday, according to social media posts from residents in the area.

The water main break Friday caused a storage tank to drain, leaving some customers without water service and others with limited pressure, according to the company.

The roughly 42,000 affected customers are in Cumberland and northern York counties, including: Camp Hill, Lemoyne, New Cumberland, Shiremanstown, West Fairview and Wormleysburg boroughs; East Pennsboro, Hampden, Lower Allen, Silver Spring townships; parts of Middlesex and Upper Allen townships; and parts of Fairview and Newberry townships.

One resident in Hampden Township said the Walmart and Sheetz locations on Carlisle Pike were closed entirely. Other residents in the area reported low water pressure issues or closures at nearby shopping/dining locations, but it is not clear how widespread the closures are or how long they will last.

Some Facebook posts said people were buying up water bottles from stores that are still open.

Pennsylvania American Water announced the following locations for customers to pick up water bottles:

• Cedar Cliff High School
  • 1301 Carlisle Rd, Camp Hill, Pa. 17011 (Lower Allen Township.)
• Adams Ricci Park
  • 100 E Penn Drive, Enola, Pa. 17025 (East Pennsboro Township)
• New Kingstown Fire Co.
  • 277 N Locust Point Road, Mechanicsburg, Pa. 17050 (Silver Spring Township)
• Creekview Park
  • 4630 Creekview Road, Mechanicsburg, Pa. (Hampden Township)

Pennsylvania American Water customers will receive either one large pack of water bottles or two small packs of water bottles, according to the company.

Police in Lower Allen Township reported “a severe traffic backlog on Carlisle Road,” near Cedar Cliff High School, around 11:30 a.m. Police are asking anyone who is not picking up necessary water bottles to avoid the area.

Here’s how to properly boil water, according to Pennsylvania American Water: Bring water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and cool before using. Use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and making food until further notice, the company said.