Westfield Old Orchard Mall in Skokie shut down Friday, making it the latest of several area closures due to a "significant" water main break impacting multiple north Chicago suburbs.
The mall posted on social media Friday afternoon that "due to a loss of water pressure caused by the water main break earlier this morning, and out of an abundance of caution for our retailers, restaurants, and customers; Westfield Old Orchard will be closed for the remainder of today."
The mall said it anticipates reopening Saturday morning, but will update shoppers ahead of time.
Nearby the mall, popular restaurant EJ's Place also posted it was forced to close due to the utility emergency.
"The Village has mandated closures for all affected restaurants," a post from the restuarant, located at 10027 Skokie Blvd. said. "Water must be tested twice in 24 hours before we can reopen. This is beyond our control, but we’d love to reschedule Valentine’s reservations and offer extra romantic dinners all next week."
Multiple boil orders were issued Friday as the water main break in Skokie forced the closures of numerous schools, shut down area roadways and left many without water supply.
Local
Both Skokie and Evanston issued boil orders to residents due to the "significant" break, which began early Friday morning at East Prairie Road and Emerson Street. Photos from the area showed entire streets flooded, with vehicles on roads partially submerged in some spots.
The break occurred at approximately 5:15 a.m. Friday at East Prairie Road and Emerson Street.
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Multiple road closures were in place, including closures at McCormick from Dempster to Golf, and East Prairie from Church to Golf.
"Avoid the area," Skokie officials said.
It was not immediately clear how long the boil order would last.
In Skokie, officials said it "will remain in effect until laboratory sampling confirms water quality has been fully restored."
In Evanston, residents were warned that "the Village of Skokie has not established a specific timeline for completing repairs related to the recent water main break."
"The Village of Skokie and City of Evanston crews are actively working to address the issue and restore water service to affected areas," an alert to residents stated.
Skokie-Morton Grove District 69 announced Friday morning that all schools would be closed due to the break.
Endeavor Health said its Skokie and Evanston locations were also impacted, leading them to cancel all appointments for Friday.
"The safety and quality of care for our patients remain our top priorities. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding," the hospital group said in a message on its website.
The Evanston locations impacted include:
- 1000 Central St.
- The COS Building (2500 Ridge Ave.)
What to do during a boil order
"Do not drink tap water without first boiling it," the alert stated, adding that "some community members in Skokie have reported very low water pressure or no water supply."
Here's what the village suggested residents do:
- Bring all water to a boil
- Let it boil for five minutes
- Let it cool before using
- Use bottled water where possible
"Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice," the village said.
Evanston officials noted you should "boil your tap water even if you filter it."
"Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering. Consider a sponge bath for babies to reduce the chance of them swallowing water," the city said in its alert.
School closures
Skokie-Morton Grove District 69 announced Friday morning that all schools would be closed "due to a water main break impacting our water." Further details weren't immediately released, but the district already had a "non-attendance day" planned for students.
