Numerous businesses in Fayette County are without water this afternoon after a water main break.
Washington Court House Service Director Ron Sockman told the Guardian that the break occurred on Lowes Boulevard near Robinson Road. It occurred after a valve broke off, Sockman said, around noon.
The break leaves numerous distribution centers, including Wal-Mart and Lowe’s without running water, and that leaves numerous employees concerned about hand washing amid COVID-19 fears.
A call by the Guardian to Wal-Mart Distribution at 2 p.m. resulted in the plant manager relaying a demand saying that the plant “is not to be put in the news” and that the water was flowing normally.
That claim, however, is not true. Crews were still working on the line after the call with Wal-Mart. Sockman said that the water will not be turned back on for an estimated 3-4 hours, or around 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
One Wal-Mart employee who spoke to the Guardian refuted the manager’s claims. They spoke only on conditions of anonymity and said that 200 employees are at work right now without the ability to wash their hands.
The Guardian reached out to the Fayette County Department of Health for more information.
“Hand sanitizer would be an acceptable alternative until it is fixed,” said deputy commissioner Leigh Cannon.
But the employee said Wal-Mart only has a limited supply of the cleaning gel.
“Wal-Mart has 200 employees in the building right now and no way to wash hands and very very limited hand sanitizer,” the employee said.
Calls to Lowe’s Distribution were not immediately returned.
Sockman said it was the main water line to that area and numerous businesses and homes are impacted. He said a boil advisory will go into effect for 2-or-3 days after the repairs.
OSHA said that once the advisory goes into effect, basic hand washing will be okay.
“Vigorous handwashing with soap and your tap water is safe for basic personal hygiene. However, if you are washing your hands to prepare food, you should use boiled (then cooled) water, disinfected or bottled water with handwashing soap.”