UPDATE: Broken Water Main on Woodlawn Road to Take Hours to Repair

Update:

2:16

Lorraine Bukowski, public relations manager for Aquarion Water Co., said the water was turned back on a short time ago. However the road is still not open, because workers have to fill in the area that was excavated and patch the pavement.

She said the work should be done in about an hour.

Aquarion Water Co. shut off water service on Woodlawn Road at 11:05 this morning after an eight-inch main was damaged near Doris Drive. Police officers have closed the road as a crew that includes personnel from John J. Brennan Construction Co. works to repair the pipe.

At 11:30 a.m. a backhoe dug up the road and two men shoveled to reach the damaged pipe.

Lorraine Bukowski, public relations manager for Aquarion, estimates it will take between four to six hours to fix the main and restore service to the 10 homes that have been affected.

Though she did not know how this call came in, Bukowski said the water company is notified of water main breaks in a number of ways.

"Sometimes we register a decrease in pressure in the mains," Bukowski said. "Sometimes police and residents call us. I get calls sometimes. It's not always a main break. Someone's lawn irrigation system sprung a leak at one time."

Other times, Bukowski said a contractor working on the road will accidentally break a main and call Aquarion.

When Water is Restored

Once the water is restored, Bukowski said some customers may notice discoloration in the water.

"This occurs because of the disturbance of naturally occurring minerals in the water and they settle in the mains over time," she said. "When a main breaks and there's a sudden decrease in pressure, it stirs up the minerals."

The discoloration is usually caused by iron and manganese, which is naturally in the water, according to Bukowski.

When customers' water is discolored, Bukowski said, "We advise them not to drink it, because it’s not palatable and don’t do the laundry because it could stain the laundry. Turn on the tub faucet at full force for a few minutes until the water runs clear."

If that does not work, she said to call Aquarion at (203) 445-7310.