Service Restored Following Jersey City Water Main Break
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Crews are wrapping up repairs on a 12-inch water main break in Jersey City that sent water gushing into the street and left many residents with dry taps early Tuesday morning.
Workers using heavy machinery were seen removing pieces of pavement to get closer to the source of the murky watery mess after the main burst just after 4 a.m. at Washington and Essex streets.
"My wife had to leave for Florida this morning, had to leave without a shower," resident Dave Levy told CBS2's Janelle Burrell. "There was no pressure when we first got up."
"Crumbling infrastructure," said resident Walter Briggins. "This area wasn't made to have so many people, this much development."
Also affected was Jersey City Medical Center where water had to be trucked in Tuesday morning.
"We are supplying them with a water tanker and supplementing them throughout the day," said Greg Kierce with the Jersey City Office of Emergency Management.
The rupture left a pond of water spanning two blocks of Essex Street, one of main arteries for the Hudson Bergen Light Rail. Service was suspended through the area for hours, but has since been restored.
According to Jersey City's official twitter handle, Suez Water reports that service has fully returned. Road paving is expected to be completed Tuesday evening.
Officials say based on their initial analysis, they don't think the cold weather was the cause.
As the repairs continue, Levy says he's just happy at least some of the water pressure has been restored.
"I was able to take a shower and do everything," he said. "So we're doing OK."
Some roads are also closed through the area. To check current traffic conditions, click here.
