Date: Fri 21-Jun-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

water-main-break-Church-Hill

Full Text:

with cut: Water Main Break Affects Homes And Businesses

A water main break apparently caused by the installation of sewer pipes under

the railroad bridge on Church Hill Road left many businesses and homes without

water Thursday morning.

Kevin Moran, general manager of the United Water Company, said the break

appeared to be on a six-inch main under the bridge trestle. Locating the break

forced the water company to close valves which left customers from Walnut Tree

Hill Road to Queen Street without water for several hours.

As the problem was isolated, water to customers began to be restored. By 10:30

am, about 100 customers still were without water. These included businesses on

the east side of Church Hill Road from the Blue Colony Diner to the railroad

bridge, the Walnut Tree Village condos and businesses on Commerce Road.

Pitney Bowes and Union Camp on Edmond Road also were without water because

water company employers were having a problem locating a valve which may have

been paved over during road reconstruction.

Mr Moran said a water company inspector had been at the site of the sewer work

Wednesday night but the break apparently occurred after the workers had

completed work for the day.

"As the sewer workers have excavated the water mains, they've dug underneath

which weakens the support," Mr Moran explained. "They backfill but the

pressure of the soil contributes to the break."

Many businesses said they were affected by the break.

"The Water Department is trying to locate the [underground] valve - to isolate

the break - to divert water so they can turn the water back on," said Joe

Renna, group leader of Facility Service at Pitney Bowes. "We have over 200

people in facility - we have to make a decision soon as to whether to let them

go (home)."

Peg Shav, supervisor of customer service at the Newtown Post Office said "We

have no water. We'll remain open. The carriers are going out (to make

deliveries) but many of the other people have taken sick leave or vacation

time because of the sanitary conditions. I'm getting everyone out of here as

fast as I can. We'll have a skeleton crew on - the window clerks and probably

only four people in the office itself. It's a problem, no question."