Manayunk water main break leaves residents without water, several roads blocked

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Crews continue to make repairs after a water main broke in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia early Monday morning.

The break of a 10-inch main flooded Manayunk Avenue between Grape and Cotton streets.

After hours, employees with the Philadelphia Water Department were able to shut off the water and isolate the 10-inch line.

Neighbors say it's not the ideal way to start the work week.

"I woke up about 7:30 to get ready for work and realized there was very little water pressure coming from the shower and sink," said Tom O'Mara, who lives on the Manayunk block. "I looked outside and saw the stream just running down Manayunk."

The break was reported around 3 a.m. by police. By noon, water was no longer pouring, but an estimated 70 people were without water in their homes

"I did mentally take a note, like try not to flush the toilet, try to not run the water. My car was parked right out front here and so I moved it," said O'Mara.

It took some time for emergency crews to locate the source of the break and stop the continuous flow.

The next step was digging up the area in order to make the necessary repairs. The process left a massive hole in the street and caused the surrounding streets to remain blocked for much of the day.

Action News was there as a SEPTA bus that was detoured became stuck at the corner of Monastery and Manayunk avenues.

"It's been a little bit of a long morning," said Rose Schmeltzer. "I know the pipes in the area are a little bit older, that kind of stuff. So I'm surprised, but not surprised. We have seen it in the neighborhood, just not on this street."

A spokesperson for the water department estimates that water service will be restored by the end of the day.

Emma Finucane tells Action News she had no plans to wait.

"I thought, time to escape to the suburbs a bit, to mom's house! Stay until my roommates tell me it's back on," said Finucane.