Large water main break disrupts residents in Camden County
Chopper 6 was overhead, where water could be seen coming from the highway.
MT. EPHRAIM TWP., New Jersey (WPVI) -- East Kings Highway in Mt. Ephraim Township, New Jersey, was closed for most of the day Tuesday due to a large water main break.
After several hours, water was turned back on at approximately 6 p.m. for people who live near the highway.
The break started around 5:30 a.m. on East Kings Highway (Rt. 551) between the Black Horse Pike (Rt. 168) and St. Martins Avenue.
"It is a smaller water main off the 12-inch main that feeds the fire hydrant that is leaking," said David Forcinito, the senior director of operations for New Jersey American Water.
Chopper 6 was overhead, where water could be seen coming from the highway. Camden County officials said the road slightly buckled after the break.
Now, crews will work on repairing the damaged roadway.
According to Forcinito, about 30 customers within the "shutdown zone" lost water service while equipment was replaced.
Mark Saavedra and his family, who live off East Kings Highway, woke up to the mess on Tuesday morning.
"I was worried about my basement getting flooded and stuff like that since it was so close to my house and constantly coming out," Saavedra explained.
Other neighbors, like Ava Crothers, said they relied on bottled water as they waited for water service to be restored.
"Water bottles all day. My dogs have been drinking out of water bottles," Crothers said. "It is what it is. You can't do anything about it."
American Water said the main cause of these breaks is typically aging infrastructure, but Forcinito said the main that broke Tuesday wasn't slated for any type of immediate repair.
The cause of the leak remains unknown.
