Service restored after water main break in North Philadelphia floods street
A water main break sent brown water gushing through a North Philadelphia neighborhood Monday morning, filling roadways and sidewalks. At least 50 properties were without water due to the break, but service has since been restored.
The Philadelphia Fire Department was called out to the 12-inch water main break at Thompson and Franklin streets just after 7:30 a.m. Thompson Street remains closed on Monday night. The water department said the main, which is more than 100 years old, has since been shut.
Battalion Chief Thomas Hair said the main burst underground, causing the streets to buckle. The water levels have mostly gone down since it first broke on Monday morning.
Chopper 3 was over the 12-inch water main break where the street could be seen buckling.
"I thought it initially, the fire hydrant behind me. Then I saw the water coming out from the tree over there. It was everywhere," neighbor Winter Evelyn said. "It was gushing out from any little crack in the ground. It was really bad."
No evacuations were ordered after the water main break, Hair said.
Hair said one vacant home took on water in its basement, but it didn't reach its electrical panels. He added that the infrastructure in the area is very old.
"Some of these mains might be over 100 years old," Hair said.
The city's Department of Licenses and Inspections and Department of Streets will work on assessing and restoring the break, Hair said.
Some cars were towed, but Hair said none were damaged.
No injuries have been reported.
Residents impacted by the water main break should call (215) 685-6300.