Three Water Pipelines Burst in Heidelberg

A 6-inch water main broke Friday morning in , causing two other valves to rupture and knocking out water service to pockets of the borough.

Pennsylvania American Water crews arrived at the first water line break in the 1800 block of Walnut Street around 7:30 a.m. and tried to repair the rupture. But when they shut off service there, it created more pressure on other valves, causing one on First Street and another near Route 50 to also break, PA American Water spokesman Gary Lobaugh said.

Lobaugh said the original line that ruptured was 60 years old and affected two other “aging” water valves.

Lobaugh said they hope to have service restored to the 70 affected customers by the end of the night. Three separate crews could be seen working on the broken lines and emptying water into Chartiers Creek or onto side streets from hydrants.

Borough Manager Joe Kauer said and county dispatchers have been notified in case there is an emergency. By 3 p.m., Kauer said only “a couple areas are shut off” in the borough.

“We’re hoping we can have everything up and running by the end of the night,” Kauer said.

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