WEST HARTFORD -- Officials say there was an 8 inch water main leak on Webster Hill Boulevard in the vicinity of Webster Hill Elementary School.
Crews initially said the break was small enough to hold off on repairs to let the school finish the day, but since then have needed to shut the main down. The school dismissed at 12 p.m. The break was restored around 8 p.m.
This water main break is added onto a list of many in the past 72 hours caused by the extremely cold weather. Berlin is also faced their second water main break on Robindale Drive early this morning.
In East Hartford, a break on Cambridge Drive was being repaired and affected about seven homes.
Crews in Hartford were working on a break at the intersection of Hicks St and Ann Uccello Street. MDC officials said, "The water main was installed in 1905 and shut down at approximately 1:30pm. 1 business (AT&T) on Hicks Street near the intersection of Trumbull St is affected by the shutdown." The break was repaired around 3 p.m.
MDC officials said of the West Hartford break, "The main was installed in 1948 and shutdown at approximately 1:00pm today. 31 properties and 1 school (Webster Hill Elementary School) on Webster Hill Blvd from Bentwood Rd to Rockledge Drive and on Carleton Rd from Webster Hill Blvd to Overbrook Rd are affected by the shutdown."
Officials say the ground is freezing, heaving, and moving which can cause pipes to breath. The age of the pipe, materials, and weather conditions can all contribute to a break. While breaks can happen in warm weather, officials say the extreme cold typically causes an uptick in the breaks.