4th And Gay Water Line Repaired

Repairs to the large water main that ruptured yesterday flooding several downtown Columbus streets are compete. Officials will investigate to determine what caused the line to break. The city says the 100-year-old cast iron water line under 4th Street has been very reliable. Laura Mohr of the city’s public utilities department says it’s not known yet if weather played a factor in the break. “Breaks occur year ‘round. Sometimes the numbers in the summer are actually higher than the numbers in the winter. Winter can add some additional stress on the lines from the ground being frozen and hard, although the lines are below the freeze line it’s an additional stress,â€? Mohr says. Mohr says the 24-inch line developed a crack that led to a 2-foot-wide hole. Even though water service to ten buildings in the area has been restored, the city advises users to boil the water before drinking it or using it for cooking. The city will lift the boil advisory when laboratory work testing is satisfactory.