Crews responded to a 48-inch water main break at Front and Tioga Streets in North Philadelphia early Wednesday.
Chopper10 flew over the scene just before 8:00 a.m., where you can see the streets are flooded. Click here for a look at pictures from the neighborhood.
Fire officials tell NBC10 they will be checking basements of homes for flooding.
The Philadelphia Water Department issued a release at 11:30 a.m. announcing the following road closures while crews investigate and make repairs to the water main.
- Front Street from Allegheny Avenue to Venango Street
- Tioga Street from Hope to Lee Street
The Water Department says those road closures will remain in effect until all work has been completed and the roadway is restored.
This is the third water main break to happen in Philadelphia in the past ten days. On July 23, a 48-inch water main broke, causing a giant sinkhole at 21st and Bainbridge in South Philadelphia. On July 29, a 24-inch main broke at Willits and Ashton Roads in Northeast Philadelphia.
On Monday, NBC10’s Terry Ruggles talked with Philadelphia Water Commissioner Howard Neukrug, who says the city keeps records on every inch of pipe and knows the conditions that could cause a break. “We’re looking at the age of the pipe, the type of soil and the size of the pipe,” said Neukrug. They also use sonar for larger pipes to listen for weak spots.
As for the break at 21st and Bainbridge, the Commissioner told NBC10, it had not had a sonar inspection and was considered to be in good condition. It was re-inforced in the early 1960s with a concrete lining and the original pipe was installed in 1917.
Chopper10 picture from Front and Tioga Streets.
