Photo by Sean Geoghan.
Water gushed out of the ground on 103rd street between West End Avenue and Riverside Drive around 10 p.m. on Saturday night, flooding the basements of nearby buildings and mangling the road.
The most likely culprit is a water main break, but we don’t yet have confirmation of that.
Update: The Columbia Spectator reports that it was a water main break, and that the bust caused water to shoot through the pavement, sending chunks of asphalt flying into the air. After the water was shut down, and power was truned off to at least on e building, the city worke don repairing the hole and finding the break. About 125 people were affected by the bust. Workers discovered it at 6:30 am. and were able to turn the power and water back on. (308 West 103rd street resident Sean Geoghan told us the water and electricity were back on in his building by Sunday morning.)
DEP spokesperson Chris “Gilbride said that water main breaks usually occur because of three factors: the age of the pipes, the temperature, and pressure changes. The pipe that broke last night was installed in 1966.”
A fire department spokesman was not sure what caused the flooding, but the FDNY appeared to have the problem under control relatively quickly. One resident said the water was gushing for “at least 15 minutes.”
Council members Mark Levine and Helen Rosenthal were on the scene after the break. Rosenthal tweeted the picture below of crews fixing the road
Electricity on at 308 west 103!! Kudos to @nycoem @FDNY @ConEdison @NYCSanitation!! pic.twitter.com/udhxwhl1vI
— Helen Rosenthal (@HelenRosenthal) January 26, 2014
Still, the gushing water clearly caused major damage: twitter user @varchibald told us it flooded her basement “in minutes.” Claire Bertin-Lang said it appeared to have affected several buildings: “#311-#315 W 103 & 310 RSD.” We also hear there is no power at 308 West 103rd street.
Photo by @varchibald.
I’m at RSD and 100th St. The water here has been smelling and tasting foul, with a light “tea” color.
I went out to buy bottled water at about 2:30 a.m., and went up the location and was told by two DEP workers that it’s most likely due to them shutting and opening valves.
They estimate it may clear up later in the day.
I can’t find any “official” information on this.
Anyone have further word? Thanks.
Is water safe to drink, today?
these worker, the men/women who came to 103rd st. are the true heros of our city. they were working in the frigid cold to protect my and your right to be warm and have the water come out of the tap.
i look directly at the street where the break happened as a home owner. i am so amazed and gratified by what i saw.
all operations should go this smoothly.
i am speechless and thankful.
neighbors gave coffee and treats.
i am proud to be a new yorker!!!! adriana tredanari
This is why not to live at the ground level (or below!) of a brownstone.
Especially if you’re downhill
Similar question. My husband said our water smelled like it had extra chlorine last night. Any idea if our water is safe to drink? Anyone to ask aside from 311? Thanks!