Crews Working To Repair Water Main Break In Newport

NEWPORT, RI — Water Division crews in Newport are working through rainy conditions to repair a water main break on Harrison Avenue.

City officials said the water main break happened on Harrison Avenue between Roseneath and Halidon avenues on Friday morning.

After excavating the area, crews came across a roughly 5-foot long crack in the 1-foot diameter pipe while trying to make repairs Friday afternoon. The cast iron main, which was installed in 1912, will be replaced with a section of new, modern pipe, and the roadway will be patched as quickly as possible, city officials said.

Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes while repairs are being made.

In order to make the repair, the area of the failure must be isolated, which requires the termination of water service in the immediate area. City officials said water service will be restored as soon as possible.

"We apologize for the inconvenience, and Newport Water staff thanks you for your patience during this emergency repair," a city spokesperson said in a statement. "Additional information will be provided as work proceeds."

As service is restored, it is common to have discolored water with low water pressure. If you encounter discolored water, city officials say to run the cold water taps throughout your home for five-to-10 minutes, or until water clears.