UPDATE: Water main leak found in Pender County’s primary water source of water

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) —  A boil water advisory is in effect for all of Pender County, because of a leak that also caused all schools to be delayed this morning.

All Pender County Schools were on a two hour delay.

Michael Mack with Pender County utilities said people in Rocky Point started calling in Tuesday afternoon saying they had low pressure.

Mack said finding the leak was not an easy task, but he says around 7:00 last night, they found the leak in their 24 inch main at their site on 421 near the Pender, New Hanover County line.

He said it affected the whole county, because it was the county’s primary source of water. He said the central and western part of the county took the biggest hit.

When we reached out to Pender County Schools, this is the response we got in an e-mail from spokeswoman Miranda Roberts:

“Pender County Schools is taking every precaution to ensure the health and safety of students and staff at schools in the Cape Fear area and Penderlea, which remain under a boil water advisory,” Roberts said. “Following the guidelines of the Pender County Utilities department, cafeteria staffs at these schools are boiling water prior to use, and bottled water is being made available to students and staff. We appreciate the support of Pender County Utilities, the county manager, and county government in regards to this matter. 

Malpass Corner Elementary is closed today due to a water pump issue that is unrelated to the water main break. We hope to have this problem resolved as soon as possible.

Instructional time will be made up in accordance with state law. The make-up schedule will be announced at a later date and shared with local media.”

None of our numerous phone calls were returned nor would someone speak with us when we stopped by the Pender County School Superintendent’s Office.

Mack said the entire county will be under a boil water advisory until sometime Thursday.