The city of Delaware will replace a 55-year-old water line along Eastwood Avenue between Pennsylvania Avenue and Troy Road beginning Monday, Aug. 6.

The Public Utilities Department said the work should be completed by Aug. 17, weather permitting.

The aging water line was installed in 1957 and has broken four times in the last five years.

"Anything over 50 years and we're pretty happy if that's the life span of a water main," said Public Utilities Director Brad Stanton.

Stanton said his department is proactive in replacing aged lines.

"We have an ongoing maintenance program where we do leak detection, valve turning and water-quality testing to determine which lines are most in need of replacement," Stanton said. "We already have plans to replace the lines at Elmwood Drive and Spencer Street and at Berne and Kirkland streets later this year."

Stanton said the main at Hillside Drive and at Blymer Street and Park Avenue are scheduled to be replaced in 2013.

"It's better for residents if we do a planned replacement than an emergency replacement, because at least they can get advance notice," he said.

In order to complete the new water main connection, service from 560-620 Pennsylvania Ave. will be interrupted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6.

A boil-order advisory, required by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, will be in effect from the time water service is restored that day until 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8.

"A boil-order advisory is issued when there is a remote possibility that bacteria present in the environment could be introduced into the water system when a main is depressurized," Stanton said. "The bacteria could render the water unsafe for human consumption."

Stanton said residents can safely wash clothes and bathe.

"It's just if you're going to use water to brush your teeth, to cook or to drink that you'll need to bring it to a boil for at least one minute," he said.

Pennsylvania Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Euclid Avenue and Troy Road from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 6. The intersection of Pennsylvania and Eastwood avenues will be closed to all traffic during the same time frame. Appropriate road closure signs and related traffic-control devices will be in place.

The city will make every effort to provide 24 hours advance notice of any non-emergency water shutdown, but residents may experience short periods without water service, officials said. After the new water line has been installed and placed into service, pavement and turf restoration will take place.

Questions may be directed to the Public Utilities Department at 740-203-1904. Residents also can follow the project via Twitter at "Delaware Ohio," and on the city's Facebook page.