Water Main Break Floods Pittsburgh

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Water Main Break Floods Pittsburgh


Thursday August 18, 2005 3:01 AM

By RAMESH SANTANAM

Associated Press Writer

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A downtown water main ruptured Wednesday, flooding streets and businesses, knocking out electrical power and floating cars in underground parking garages.

City officials said they did not know what caused the 80-year-old, 36-inch main to break at about 10:35 a.m. beneath Fort Duquesne Boulevard, a major thoroughfare along the Allegheny River.

``Age could be a factor. Pressure could be another factor,'' said Mike Lichte, the city's director of engineering and construction.

Officials estimated that 20 million to 30 million gallons of water gushed out over several hours before city workers shut valves leading to the broken line.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5217476,00.html