Several Cleveland Streets Flooded By Water Main Break

A private subcontractor installing a fiber optic line hit a water main line Wednesday, causing the downtown area to flood for the second time this year.

City officials ordered the temporary closure of several streets and issued a water boil order until 6 p.m. Thursday.

The extent of damage was not known, said Michael Konicek, director of the city's Department of Public Utilities. He said crews were digging a hole Wednesday night to reach the area where a private subcontractor's backhoe hit the water main line, creating a 5-foot-long hole.

Konicek said his department was investigating whether the 30-inch water main line, which was at least 80 years old, was marked.

The break sent water into the basements of four buildings.

On Jan. 12, a 36-inch water main break sent 25 million gallons of water through downtown streets. Much of the water froze before city workers got the situation under control.