Water main break in Peters Twp.
A portion of Washington Road in Peters Township, in front of Wendy’s restaurant, was coated in ice early Tuesday afternoon after a 6-inch, 60-year-old water main broke. Township public works employees used three township vehicles to scrap of the ice until crews from Pennsylvania American Water Co. were able to shut off water service. The break was reported shortly before 1 p.m. One southbound lane was closed briefly.
Josephine Posti, external affairs specialist with the water company, said repairs were to be complete by about 10 p.m. Nearly 50 water customers, residential and business, were affected by the break.
During the coldest weather in the past two decades, Posti said there were no “big spikes” in breaks being reported. Only emergency repairs were being made Tuesday, while non-emergency services, such as regularly scheduled maintenance and meter reading, were suspended.
As to what will occur when the temperatures rise and the ground warms, Posti said that could put a strain on the underground pipes.