A water main break flooded the intersection of Robbins and Elmhurst streets in Northeast Philadelphia's Oxford Circle neighborhood.

Video from Chopper 3 showed muddy-colored water rushing down the street and along the sidewalk Tuesday morning. The water main break was first reported at 6:50 a.m., and it took the Philadelphia Water Department a couple of hours to get on scene.

Water flowed for more than four hours until Philadelphia Water Department crews shut it off at around 11 a.m.

In a statement shared with CBS News Philadelphia, the water department said crews identified a broken 8-inch cast-iron main as the possible cause of the flooding. Crews are working on fixing the broken water main.

About 40 properties were without water service on the 6300 block of Elmhurst Street, but that has since been restored, PWD said. Residents who don't live on that block but are without water or dealing with flooding should call 215-685-6300.

Some neighboring homes are on a small hill, which allowed a large majority of the water to spill into a couple of nearby storm drains.

Temperatures Tuesday remain near freezing, and PWD said extremely cold weather can cause more breaks along service lines and plumbing.

Residents said they're worried the water will freeze overnight and make for a messy commute Wednesday morning.

"To reduce demand on staff conducting leak investigations and the calls to the emergency hotline, residents who lose water are encouraged to check with a neighbor before reporting a possible main break," the department said.

Emergency leaks can be reported to PWD's 24-hour line at 215-685-6300.