Philadelphia

Water Spews 200 Feet Into Air After Pipe Bursts in Northeast Philly, Worker Hurt

A water main break in Northeast Philly caused water to spew 200 feet into the air and left a worker trying to stop the water injured.

It took more than 12 hours to stop the gushing water.

The 10-inch pipe broke around 7 p.m. Wednesday at Blue Grass Road near Grant Avenue. Workers with the Philadelphia Water Department were at the scene for hours trying to shut down water lines and isolate the break.

While trying to stop the break, a Philadelphia Water Department employee suffered undisclosed injuries.

The pipe serves as a fire service connection used to feed a sprinkler system inside a nearby business. Workers had trouble reaching the break as it sits between an auto body shop and a car dealership. They also dealt with the freezing cold temperatures that caused the water to ice over.

Unable to shut off the main, the workers left the scene late Wednesday night and planned on returning Thursday morning. Water could still be seen spewing into the air through the early morning until being shut off around 8 a.m.

No homes appeared to loss water service from the break.

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