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Bull riveter in operation, January 24, 1913.


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Early on the morning of January 2, a break on a hundred-year old, 48" diameter water main on Fifth Avenue between 19th and 20th Streets sent several hundred thousand gallons of water cascading through the nearby streets, causing a curb-to-curb road collapse, interrupting utility services to the block, snarling traffic in the Flatiron District, and causing a gas leak that eventually ignited sending flames two stories high. After the break was contained and repairs began, the site became a rare opportunity for residents and passers-by to see the complex infrastructure under the City's streets.

In a City with so many attractions, visitors and residents alike couldn't resist taking Mayor Giuliani's lead and seizing the chance to view the underpinnings of New York. Gathering at police barricades that bordered the damaged block, scores of people stopped during the exceptionally warm winter days following the break to marvel at the sight and the massive repair project underway.

Within days the restoration effort's progress was obvious. City workers and contractors worked around the clock to replace broken water, sewer, and gas pipes, and telephone, electric, and cable wires, that restored utility services to the area. Gradually, stores on the block began to open and residents returned to their apartments. The permanent restoration of the roadway is expected to take several weeks to complete, but the block opened for limited traffic on Sunday, January 11.

New York City has about 6,000 miles of water main and experiences roughly 600 breaks per year. Most of these affect very limited areas and are barely noticed before they are repaired by the City's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). DEP also surveys all 6,000 miles of water main on a three-year cycle to detect small leaks and repair them, helping to avoid larger, more disruptive breaks.

For more details on the City's water supply system, click here.

 


Last updated April 20, 2007

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