Cary and Morrisville Issue Boil Water Advisory After Major NC 55 Main Break
A 30-inch water main rupture on NC 55 early Monday morning forced the Town of Cary to issue a boil water advisory for its Central Pressure Zone, affecting approximately 50,000 customers in Cary and Morrisville. The break caused significant low pressure, prompting officials to close NC 55 in both directions between Jenks Road and Lewey Drive to clear debris. Residents are advised to boil water for one minute or use bottled water until the advisory lifts, with initial testing results expected by midnight. While no harmful bacteria have been detected, low pressure poses a risk of contamination. The advisory is set to remain in effect until at least 3 a.m. Tuesday, and town facilities like spraygrounds have been closed as a precaution.
Key points
- A 30-inch water main break occurred early Monday morning in the Central Pressure Zone of Cary and Morrisville.
- Approximately 50,000 customers are affected by low water pressure and the subsequent boil water advisory.
- NC 55 is closed in both directions between Jenks Road/Old Jenks Road and Lewey Drive/Turner Creek Road for debris removal.
- Residents must boil water for one minute or use bottled water; no harmful bacteria have been detected so far.
- The advisory will remain in effect until at least 3 a.m. Tuesday, with water samples collected at 5 a.m. and results expected by midnight.
Background
This incident follows a series of infrastructure disruptions in the Cary and Morrisville area. In early September 2026, a Duke Energy transmission line issue caused a power outage affecting up to 35,000 customers in the same region. The current water main break adds to a pattern of utility infrastructure challenges in Wake County, though this specific event is isolated to the water system's Central Pressure Zone.
How outlets are covering it
The Raleigh News & Observer and WRAL both confirm the core facts: a 30-inch main break affecting roughly 50,000 customers in the Central Pressure Zone. WRAL emphasizes the scale of the impact, noting viewer reports of low or no water pressure before 3 a.m. The Raleigh News & Observer provides more granular detail on the advisory's scope, specifying that the Central Pressure Zone extends from NC 55 east to I-40 and from the Durham County line south to I-540. Both outlets agree that no harmful bacteria have been detected, but the News & Observer includes specific health warnings for immunocompromised individuals and those in child care or assisted living facilities, which WRAL does not detail. WRAL notes NC 55 is expected to reopen by 7 a.m., while the News & Observer focuses on the advisory duration until 3 a.m. Tuesday.
Why it matters
The boil water advisory affects a large population in a major tech hub, potentially disrupting daily routines, businesses, and sensitive facilities like hospitals and child care centers. The closure of NC 55, a key arterial road, will cause significant traffic delays in the Raleigh-Durham area. The incident highlights the vulnerability of aging water infrastructure and the immediate public health precautions required during such events.
What to watch
Cary officials expect the earliest water test results by midnight, with the boil water advisory remaining in effect until at least 3 a.m. Tuesday. NC 55 is expected to reopen to traffic by 7 a.m. Residents should monitor the Town of Cary's website for updates on the advisory's status and affected areas. Customers in the Western and Southern Pressure Zones, as well as Apex and RDU Airport, are not impacted and should continue normal usage.
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