Buffalo leaders know, approximately, how much water was released Wednesday night because of a ruptured 90-year-old main at the intersection of Hertel Avenue and Military Road.
The answer?:
Roughly 20 million gallons - or, to put it into perspective that's more than 15% of the daily, 130 million gallon intake at the Gov. Ward Pumping Station near the Peace Bridge.
As the clean-up continues, Mayor Sean Ryan said it will be several months before his administration can determine how much it is going to cost the cash-starved city in terms of repairs and damages.
Ryan attributes the recent wave of water main breaks to the aging infrastructure. He and his administration team are working on a long term plan to address the aging infrastructure issue.
Some financial help will likely come from New York state, or, even federal agencies.
"We will look at all avenues," Ryan said.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was in Buffalo Thursday morning, said New York may be able to help Buffalo with funds allocated in her proposed $260 billion state budget.
"No mayor can do this (handle infrastructure repairs and upgrades) on their own," Hochul said.
Given the city's aging water lines and projections for more harsh and cold winter weather still on the horizon, Ryan is warning that other water main breaks are likely.
"It is going to be tough going until the summer," Ryan said.
The 36-inch water water main burst shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday sending waves of icy, cold water into the Black Rock neighborhood around what is a busy intersection. The cast iron pipe was installed in 1936.
For now, the Hertel/Military intersection remains closed.