Water main break impacts homes, businesses, traffic near South Street

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Crews remain on the scene of a water main break near South Street.

Water has now been restored to all customers, and the main has been fixed at 5th and South.

It happened around 11:15 p.m. Thursday, when water starting bubbling from a manhole on the 500 block of South Street.

There were about 50 power outages earlier. PECO said all of those customers were back online around 12:30 p.m.

But for many of the businesses on 5th street near the break - it meant a day of business lost.

Roz Bratt sprung into action when she heard the water main break was near her kosher bakery on 5th Street.

"When I heard it was my block, I flew out of bed so quickly to get dressed, and call my girls and tell them the water main broke," said Bratt of Homemade Goodies by Roz.

Despite her efforts, she arrived to find her business without water.

She said the health department came and told her without running water she had to close for the day.

"I've got one more delivery to do before I go home, and that'll be the way it'll end today," said Bratt. "I'll come back in here Sunday and pray for the best."

Officials said the break happened just before midnight, and the cause is unknown.

"We try to do our best to prevent them from breaking by replacing them through our replacement program," said water department spokesman John DiGiulio. "But as they break we do get out there to repair them."

Michael Harris from the South Street Headhouse Business District spent part of his day checking in with businesses affected by the break.

"The good news is that the water department is here working on it and it's not a widespread effect," said Harris. "It's limited to this block, it looks like, at the moment."

As for traffic, officials said 5th Street from South to Lombard will likely remain closed for the rest of the night.

Drivers are encouraged to avoid this area if possible.