ST. CHARLES — People in St. Charles should boil their water, city officials warned Thursday, after damage to a pipeline caused a "depressurization event" in its water system.

"This advisory is being issued out of an abundance of caution and is effective immediately," the city said in a press release issued shortly after 3:30 p.m., explaining that such a loss of pressure can potentially allow contaminants to enter the water supply.

It said that a "critical water interconnection pipeline" co-owned by the cities of St. Charles and St. Peters had been struck and damaged by a private contractor, causing the major loss of pressure. The contractor was not named in the release.

Crews from both cities and an emergency contractor had mobilized to start repairing the damaged pipeline, the release

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