Sunday Water Main Break Leaves Manayunk Soggy

For the second time in six months, a water main break plagued the Green Lane end of Main Street—though the more recent one left far less damage.

Early Sunday morning, the Philadelphia Water Department responded to a 6-inch water main break emanating from the 100 block of Carson Street—the alley-like street behind the U.S. Post Office and near the SEPTA Manayunk station entrance.

Water department spokesperson Laura Copeland said the break, which happened around 6 a.m. Nov. 25, left six residents and one business without water for most of the day. Service returned by 3 p.m., she said.

The break happened on the side street but the water trickled to Main Street. Unlike the May 16 incident, which flooded several businesses and closed the Green Lane intersection near rush hour, the Sunday break impacted fewer individuals.

In May, the break occurred directly on Main Street, near the fire station. Ashes Cigar Lounge remains closed still due to the incident. However, this incident took place closer to Cresson Street, on Carson.

On Monday, mud gathered at corners, but Manayunk was mostly unscathed. Main Street Music reported muddy customers but no damage. A.G. Jamesons' U.S. Hotel was able to open Sunday and Monday. The post office, similarly, remained open, although its ground-level parking garage was ropped off.

Part of Main Street did close Monday, however, that was due to Philadelphia Gas Works maintenance. Although bus and pedestrian traffic continued unimpeded, cars were detoured to Cresson Street—from Cotton to Levering streets—for most of the day.

Copeland said the cause of the break was undetermined.