Water Main Breaks in Chicago's Loop
The break occurred shortly after 8 a.m. beneath the intersection of Quincy and Wells, in an area of the city known as the "Loop," sending gallons of water coursing through the streets. The rupture caused a section of pavement to collapse. A car and tow truck fell into the hole. No injuries were reported.
Water Department officials worked throughout the day Monday to determine why the 36-inch main ruptured. Speculation centered on weather being the cause. It took workers about an hour to seal the break, which sent as much as eight inches of water into streets in a four-block area, according to UPI reports.
Surrounding buildings suffered no apparent damage, unlike 1992 when the Chicago River broke through the city's underground tunnel system, flooding basements, cutting off electricity and forcing the central business district to shut down for days.
Edited by Tracy Fabre