POTOMAC, Md. - For the second time in less than a week, big time problems have occurred with a water main. A massive water main broke in Potomac, sending water spewing into the sky. Now emergency water restrictions are in place, this time for the city of Rockville. It comes on the heels of repairs to an eight-foot pipe for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, which forced water restrictions in a two county area.
The geyser blew full blast for more than six hours before the water died down to just a bubble. Repair crews stood by waiting for the water to be cut off. The water pressure is so high, they have to do it slowly and only then can crews begin repairs. The water gushed like old faithful from the 24-inch pipe, with a geyser higher than the tallest tree.
"I have no idea what happened,” said Mesfin Ayenew, who lives in the neighborhood. “I thought some explosion took place here.”
It spewed water onto South Glen Road non-stop for hours, perhaps as much as two million gallons.
"I think it's pretty incredible and scary," said Jennifer Malamut, who came to watch with her two sons. It was not so scary for her seven-year-old Vaughn, who said "I think it's pretty amazing."
The 52-year old water main belongs to the city of Rockville but initial calls went to WSSC, creating more than a two hour delay. But the water main break did not disrupt water service. Instead, WSSC rerouted water to Rockville to keep the city's service flowing.
“This is the main transmission line, the main, one and only transmission main that goes from our water treatment plant to our distribution system,” said Craig Simoneau, Rockville’s Director of Public Works who was heading up repair efforts. “So without this pipe, we can't produce and deliver water to our system.”
The water flooded one yard and created a river running down the street into a creek. A few guys grabbed their boogie boards figuring they would never get a chance like this again.
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