Water Main Break Cuts Service To Hospital, 20 Percent Of Customers In Belleville, N.J.

BELLEVILLE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A water main break cut off service to a hospital and parts of Belleville, New Jersey late Monday afternoon.

As Joe Biermann reported from Chopper 2, the 12-inch main broke behind Barnabas Health Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville late in the afternoon.

The main broke as a large crane rolled across it, officials said.

As a result of the main rupture, 20 percent of the town was left without water – including the hospital.

A shuttle service was set up using fire trucks and hydrants, which pumped water down the street and into the hospital.

An alert affecting all of Essex County was also issued, and tankers were brought into Belleville as fire protection.