Hundreds of Alexandria, Virginia, residents had no water or low water pressure after a water main sprung a leak on Tuesday.
A 12-inch water main beneath the road broke and sent water gushing on Taney Avenue near the intersection with North Ripley Street in the city’s West End. After the road buckled from the water, a sinkhole formed.
“The water pressure from the water line, is actually really strong. It was able to lift up the whole piece of the street, disintegrating the whole street,” Jose Alvarenga, a Utilities Unlimited worker said.
Resident Ashley Davidson along with hundreds of neighbors started the day with no water and looked outside to see water in the street.
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“A lot of water. I mean, it was flooding, the police were already here blocking traffic,” Davidson said.
With the water supply shut off to allow repairs, Patrick Henry K-8 School, Douglas MacArthur Elementary School and James K. Polk Elementary School closed for the day, according to Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS).
Students were excited for the day off.
“A water break day,” Camilla Meza, a Polk Elementary student said.
Danien Woldejiorgis had to take the day off work to watch his three kids.
“There is no water, everything is shut off,” Woldejiorgis said.
Water service has been restored to the schools. The schools will open Wednesday as scheduled, according to ACPS.
Some neighbors took advantage of the hydrants opened to relieve the water pressure and filled buckets to take home.
Work crews had to first pump all the water out before they could begin repairs. As they cleared the sinkhole other teams resurfaced the damaged street.
Crews also dug down and removed chunks of asphalt. During this, they found a large crack through the pipe. They will fix it by cutting the pipe out and replacing the whole section.
“After that, we’re gonna' cut the water back on, and see if it runs good. Once, it runs good, we are going to bury it and then we are going to put asphalt back on top,” Alvarenga said.
The intersection of Taney Avenue and North Pelham Street was closed to traffic.
Utilites Unlimited estimated that the water main break would be fixed between 8 and 9 p.m.
Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.
