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Residents In Hamilton Heights May Be Without Gas And Water For Over A Week

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A gas and water crisis in one upper Manhattan neighborhood doesn't look like it will end soon. The problem is a result of a huge water main break that occurred Friday in Hamilton Heights.

Crews were working feverishly around the clock, repairing the gaping hole at 152nd Street and St. Nicholas Ave.

According to Con Edison, Friday's water main break has left over 7,000 customers without gas and many without comforts often taken for granted.

"It's very uncomfortable, very difficult. Imagine no hot water, no gas, no cooking, no bath. So what can you do?" asked Dulce Gonzalez.

"No cooking, it's hard to bathe because now you have to heat up water in the microwave in order to bathe. You know, to take care of your necessities," Margarita Herrera told CBS 2's Mark Morgan.

Con Edison said it must enter every apartment effected and turn on individual appliances.

The painstaking process has been effecting more than just individual families. Young Yang's dry cleaning business at 148th Street has come to a standstill. He has been without gas since Friday.

"We got the notice that the gas was shut off," Young Yang said. "We cannot run the boiler, the boiler makes the steam. We use the steam to press the clothes."

"People that I know they are stressing, they're hurting. That's why we're all out here like it's a blackout or something," Twan Marshall said.

Con Ed said it will be restoring gas service to some customers in the next 24 hours, but officials estimate it may take over a week for all those effected to have their gas service restored.

Are you being affected by the water main break? Let us know in the comments section...

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