Story Published:
Mar 18, 2009 at 8:31 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Mar 19, 2009 at 12:41 AM EDT
A massive water main break shuts down Springfield's North End. Crews were called to the corner of Main and Carew Streets around 6 a.m. A 24-inch main burst sending water flooding down the streets.
"The roads were all flooded out and everything, and it was really devastating what water damage can do to a road," says Fran Deschaine.
As workers started their day in the North End, their morning route turned from road to river, after a nearly sixty year old water main burst.
"Our crews responded immediately and found water gushing into the street," says Kathy Pedersen of the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission. "We estimate we lost 5.5 million gallons of water."
Once the 24 inch main was shut off a sinkhole formed, collapsing the road. Crews from Water and Sewer, DPW, gas and electric all converged to begin the long process of digging out.
"We're finding some utilities were put in directly over the water main, so they've gonna have to move their utilities," says Al Chwalek of the Department of Public Works.
Water was restored to all but a few customers by early Wednesday afternoon, but officials say some residents could still be dealing with it at the faucet.
"People will see discolored water, or what we call cloudy or milky water," says Pedersen.
If your water looks discolored follow these steps. Turn on the cold water only for two to three minutes. If the water still won't run clear, shut it off for half an hour. Try running the cold water again for another few minutes, and once it is clear you can return to normal water use.
"That water is safe, but it just doesn't look right," says Pedersen. "There is plenty of chlorine in the water, but it just doesn't look good."
And though water was the start of the problem, road repairs are what will keep drivers detouring for weeks to come.
"It's a major transmission line," says Chwalek. "It did quite a bit of damage, there's so many utilities in the way and it's in the middle of a very busy intersection. It's gonna take a while to put it back."
The damage was so severe the Lieutenant Governor came to survey the area, and determine if state aid will be available to help the city dig itself out of this hole.
"We can certainly talk with our Secretary of Transportation to see if there is some infrastructure money both in the short and long term to assist," says Lt. Gov. Tim Murray.
Officials from MEMA were also on hand to determine if the city is eligible for disaster relief funding.
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