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Crews Continue Repairs on Broken Water Mains in Dupont

DUPONT — Crews have been working all day to fix two broken water mains in Luzerne County. Repairs to one of the lines were completed Tuesday night, but wa...

DUPONT -- Crews have been working all day to fix two broken water mains in Luzerne County.

Repairs to one of the lines were completed Tuesday night, but water is still out for some people in the borough while crews finish fixing the second.

Pennsylvania American Water crews remained in Dupont into the night after two water mains broke Tuesday morning, flooding Main Street.

Nick Bonafide lives right next to where it happened.

"When I woke up, I heard a little bit of noise but I went to go use the bathroom and there was no water," he said.

Pennsylvania American Water said a 10-inch main broke first. Then falling concrete caused an eight-inch main to also break, cutting off water service to about 20 homes and businesses.

Donna Saylor of nearby Jenkins Township came out to check on her son and grandchildren.

"I just feel bad. My son lives down this street and they've had no water all day and he's got little kids and stuff like that."

Main Street was closed all day as crews cut a huge hole in the road in an effort to repair the pipes.

"I looked out the window and I saw this giant hole. It was even actually bigger than it was right now. I guess they did something to it, but that's a big hole," Bonafide said.

When crews went to make repairs, they found yet another setback. Crews cut a big hole into Main Street to get to those pipes, but Pennsylvania American Water said the depth of the hole caused unsafe conditions and now the state Department of Environmental Protection is investigating a possible mine subsidence.

"Right now they're putting rock in there and then they're going to put concrete in there later on to fill it, to secure it," said Dupont Council President Stanley Knick.

Now DEP officials are investigating to see if a mine subsidence may have caused the initial break.

"Bureau of mines was here and they have no concerns as long as it's filled right, it should be fine," Knick said.

Pennsylvania American Water says repairs to the eight-inch main were completed by 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. It expects the 10-inch main will be fixed overnight. The company can then begin restoring service to all customers.

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