This browser does not support the Video element.
Water main break floods streets, buildings in Bethesda
The cold temperatures have created a wet and icy situation after a water main busted in downtown Bethesda.
BETHESDA, Md. - A water main break flooded parts of downtown Bethesda on Monday, creating a muddy mess. The break was reported in the 7200 block of Wisconsin Avenue around 9:30 a.m. after temperatures dropped and snow fell.
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) worked to stop the water flow and is now addressing the repair. Some pipes are between eight and ten feet deep, and a typical repair takes four to six hours once crews have dug up the pipe and located the source of the leak, officials said.
WSSC reports that more than 1,700 water main breaks and leaks occur each year, with 65% happening between November and February. Brown water could be seen flowing down Wisconsin Avenue and into the side streets. It is unclear how many homes and businesses are affected by the break, though some buildings experienced low water pressure.
There is no timetable for when water service will be fully restored.
The Source: WSSC and FOX 5 reporting contributed to this report