Boil water order impacting more than 300 Dixmoor homes after 3rd water main break in 2 days

DIXMOOR, Ill. (WLS) -- A boil order is still in place for more than 300 homes in Dixmoor on Wednesday after three water main breaks over two days.

Dixmoor Mayor Fitzgerald Roberts took matters into his own hands, handing out bottles of water to residents at the community center.

A village spokesperson said as of Wednesday afternoon, repairs on all three of the breaks, which have been impacting streets from 141st to 143rd and from Wood to Marshfield, are complete. The boil order will remain in effect during testing.

"I've been boiling water for a while for drinking until they get everything fixed," said resident Hugh Pernell. "They fixing in it as it goes, so."

The mayor has been asking residents to be patient.

"Bear with us. Whenever you need us to help you at, we'll be there, I have administration that's moving and about the people, and we are for the people and helping the people," Roberts said.

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Residents there said they're used to this by now, but they want more help from elected officials.

"I would like to see our legislators focus on us taxpayers. We spend a lot of talk about on the millions spent on migrant issues. I'd like to see some of that money come to us," said lifelong Dixmoor resident Tim Arrington.

The up-and-down temperatures are not helping matters, but an aging infrastructure is really the source of the issue. City officials have been asking for local and federal help for years now to permanently fix these water problems.

The Army Corps of Engineers and Cook County funded about $2 million in repairs within the last year, which replaced a 2-mile water line. The mayor said that has certainly helped, but he still needs a total of $50 million to fix the aging infrastructure.

"We have a plan moving forward. We're getting federal help and also getting state and county help. Toni Preckwinkle has been our president, and she's been great to us," Roberts said.

Roberts said there are plans for more infrastructure repairs that will start in the spring with the help of local and federal funding.

Residents can pick up water at the community center on 143rd and Paulina on Wednesday. The village is giving them until they run out, and officials are expecting more from the county.