ST. LOUIS — A massive water main break in north St. Louis is keeping an entire intersection closed as crews work to repair it.
The main break happened sometime before 6 a.m. Friday at the intersection of Penrose Street and Blair Avenue, at the edge of Windsor Park. The fountain-like main break flooded the entire intersection, with water pooling on nearby neighborhood streets, and caused the street to begin caving in.
As of 8 a.m. Friday, the City of St. Louis said it did not plan to put a boil order in place for the area.
5 On Your Side spoke to nearby residents. One said the sound of running water was so loud they thought that their shower had been left on. Instead, that resident looked outside to see a geyser of water coming from the intersection.
Massive water main break floods north St. Louis intersection
St. Louis City Water Distribution Executive Mark Nankivil reports the break is of a 36-inch main. "It is a little deeper than usual," Nankivil explained, "but on the larger mains deeper is normal."
It took hours for crews to slow the raging waters. Nankivil explained why: "It's a large main with a number of other large mains tied to it and the larger valves you have to backshut to take pressure off of them to be able to shut them and get a good complete shut."
Once the break is isolated, St. Louis City Water crews will start excavating to determine the issue.
As of 1 p.m., residents told 5 On Your Side they had running water.
This is a breaking news story. 5 On Your Side will update it as more information becomes available.
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