New Rochelle Water Main Breaks Not Related

The three water main breaks that occurred Friday morning were not related.

Deb Rizzi, spokeswoman for United Water, said Monday a manager who worked on the breaks felt it was a result of weather conditions.

"When you have a really cold period followed by a warming period, you can see ground shifts," Rizzi said, that could have caused the breaks. 

United Water started getting calls about the three breaks around 5:30 a.m. Friday.

The breaks in New Rochelle were near the intersection of Cedar and Spring streets—a 16-inch main—and Webster Avenue near the Hutchinson River Parkway—a 12-inch main. The 6-inch main in Eastchester that broke was at Alta Drive. 

The underpass at Cedar Street, near the I-95 Exit 16, was flooded and the entire area was blocked off. 

Rizzi said the major impact for most customers was low water pressure. That problem was solved by around 1:30 p.m. There was some discoloration of the water as well.

"About 100 customers in the immediate vicinity of the breaks had no water," she said. The New Rochelle Public Library closed its downtown facility at noon Friday because of the lack of water.

While the breaks were being repaired, Rizzi said the water was being tested for safety. She said at no time was the water unsafe to drink.