Residents of the Woodland Commons will be boiling their water for up to 48 hours, after an 8-inch water main broke in the apartment complex Monday night.

The main break occurred around 8:30 p.m., causing 100 residences in Woodland Commons on the 13700 block of Northeast 11th Street to be without water until early Tuesday.

“There really isn’t any definitive reason why it broke,” said Bellevue Utilities spokesman Michael May. “Often these things just break.”

May said several apartment units sustained minor water damage, but no major flooding of residences occurred. According to county records, the Woodland Commons was constructed in 1978.

Utilities crews replaced the main with a new pipe Tuesday morning, and now need to flush it out and then test the water for any contaminants. May said a loss of pressure in a pipe can allow contaminants in, which is why residents are being asked to boil their water before drinking it.

“It really is a cautionary thing that we do, to take the samples and make sure everything’s OK,” he said.

Bathing water is fine, but even water used for cleaning dishes or brushing teeth should be boiled.

Affected residents with questions can contact Bellevue Utilities at 425-452-7840.