Overnight Queen Village water main break leaves giant hole in street, homes flooded

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — An overnight water main break in the Queen Village section of Philadelphia left a number of residents without water and power, and officials cleaning up a mess. Some people have even been dealing with flooding in their homes.

It was shortly after midnight when the 30-inch water main broke on the cast iron pipe at Sixth and Bainbridge streets, according to the Philadelphia Water Department's Brian Rademaekers.

"We responded immediately and started trying to isolate the break," said Rademaekers. "It caused significant damage in the intersection. So right now we're pumping water out of cellars and trying to help out customers in the vicinity."

He said it's going to take a while to get everything cleaned up and back to normal, as well as to fix the gaping hole filled with water in the middle of the street. As to how long, they're not quite sure.

Crews work to get a water main break at Sixth and Bainbridge Streets under control.
Crews work to get a water main break at Sixth and Bainbridge Streets under control. Photo credit Kristina Koppeser/KYW Newsradio

"We're just trying to deal with what's an emergency situation. We have to get in there and take a look at what's going on, work with other utilities and streets department and make the repairs as soon as possible," he said.

The cast iron pipe that broke was originally installed in 1891.

"It's one of our oldest in our system. We try to get as much life out of them as long as we can, obviously this one reached the end of its life and we’re trying to deal with the situation right now," he explained.

Water Department crews blocked off the Bainbridge Street section where the water main break left a large hole in the street.
Water Department crews blocked off the Bainbridge Street section where the water main break left a large hole in the street. Photo credit Adam Koppeser
The overnight water main break left mud throughout the Queen Village neighborhood.
The overnight water main break left mud throughout the Queen Village neighborhood. Photo credit Kristina Koppeser/KYW Newsradio

John Conover lives right down the block from the rupture. "We're on the third story, so we did not get any water in our place but the basement is completely flooded. There is no water, no electricity," he said.

Joseph said, like Conover, his apartment was spared from the flooding that happened as a result of the break, but the basement and storage units were not as lucky.

A Queen Village basement apartment is flooded after a water main break.
A Queen Village basement apartment is flooded after a water main break.
A number of Queen Village residents woke up Sunday morning to flooding in their homes and basements, such as this resident on Fifth and Kater streets.

"A fair amount of damage to a lot of cardboard boxes," he said. "In different of the basement because of the grade, there are certain areas that are dry and others have up to four inches of water."

Many of the neighbors say they hope this is a wake-up call for a massive overhaul of the city's aging infrastructure.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Justin Udo/KYW Newsradio