A break in an Arlington County water main Sunday afternoon, March 12, 2006 in the Chain Bridge and Clara Barton Parkway area interrupted water service for county residents and resulted in very low water pressure for nearly 600 customers in Northwest Washington.

Arlington County has issued a temporary boil water alert for selected areas of the county until more information is available later in evening. Arlington officials say the alert is a precaution due to the temporary absence of pressure in the area of the break which could allow ground water contaminates to enter their system.

There has been no boil water alert issued by the DC Water and Sewer Authority for the District of Columbia because pressure in the District water lines was maintained at a level to prevent infiltration. Full water pressure is being restored gradually to the impacted areas of the District. The cause of the break is still under investigation, according to Arlington officials.