Toledo dodges major water crisis as crews repair water main break that sent water shooting into the air
TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) — A broken water valve near the Glass Pavilion in Toledo sent water shooting several stories high and flooded streets for blocks, turning roadways into rivers across multiple neighborhoods.
Toledoan Jermain Witcher said he couldn’t believe what he saw when water shot from the ground like a waterfall near the Glass Pavilion.
“I got to looking further down and see where it’s all coming from. It was shooting up to about three levels high,” Witcher said.
The flooding extended across multiple streets in the area.
“It came all the way down Scottwood. It was always on Robinwood. It was going down to Glenwood. It looked like you can go out there and go swimming right now. Down the whole block of Robinwood,” Witcher said.
Major water disruption avoided
Toledo’s Director of Public Works said repairs are underway, and western Lucas County dodged a major issue. The 60-inch main line serves as a lifeline, and if it had broken, thousands of people would have lost water pressure while crews scrambled to shut it down.
“It was an 8 inch blow off valve that actually broke. So we had a valve break that came off of that so we were fortunate that the main itself was intact,” the director said.
The director explained the importance of the main line to the region’s water supply.
“This is primarily a transmission main, and this would take you to Sylvania Western Lucas County. This is a feed for that now this is the only feed. We maintain pressure. We maintain flow. But this is a primary feed so. This is one we have to watch carefully,” the director said.
Repairs and future planning
The director said repairs should be completed in two to three days.
The city studied this main eight years ago and determined it did not need repairs then. The director said the city will now conduct a new study on the infrastructure.
“We’re going to do a study on what it needs. What it would take to replace it and at least get that kick kicked off so that in the future as we decide, the time is right and the dollars are there we’ll be able to do the work,” the director said.
The city deals with 400 water main breaks a year — but officials say they’ve never seen one like this and they hope they never do again.
An update from the City of Toledo on Thursday night said that crews have successfully shut down the portion of the transmission man causing flooding.
“The shutdown has not resulted in any known issues with water delivery or system pressurization. Crews will continue to closely monitor the system for any changes,” the city statement read. “Because system pressure was maintained, a boil advisory is not needed at this time.”
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