WATER DISCHARGES
200 FEET INTO AIR AFTER 10-INCH PIPE BURSTS IN NORTHEAST PHILLY, WORKER HURT
The geyser of water that rocketed up into the sky over
one Philadelphia neighborhood has finally been choked off, but a lot of
questions remain. (Published Thursday, Jan 15, 2015)
Thursday, Jan 15, 2015 • Updated at 5:05 PM EST
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.