Water main break floods east side streets, leads to boil water advisory
Water main break floods east side streets, leads to boil water advisory
This article will update.
A water main break at East 22nd Street and Dr. Andrew J. Brown is flooding roadways, creating traffic issues and dropping water pressure on the city’s east side, which has led to a boil water advisory.
The Citizens Energy water outage map shows the majority of the city’s east side, including Christian Park, Irvington, and areas north around the fairgrounds are experiencing low pressure because of the break.
More: What’s a boil water advisory? East side Indianapolis area has one for 48 hours after main break
The issue was reported about 10:15 a.m. and the repair is expected to take up to eight hours, Citizens Energy is reporting. Crews have also been requested to clear clogged drainage inlets to allow the water to flow off the roads.
John “Marty” Ray, who lives near the intersection of Columbia Road and 22nd Street, said he learned about the flooding when his neighbor knocked on his door.
“It looked like a river out here,” Ray said. He said that water levels started to drop after crews started clearing drains, but at first, it was impossible to see where the drains even were.
Officials with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office said that the county’s circuit and superior courts are now closed because of the water main break and there are health concerns at the Community Justice Center. All hearings scheduled for Thursday, including remote and in-person hearings, will be rescheduled.
The administrative office of the Marion County Coroner’s Office will be closed until Friday at 8 a.m.
Community East Hospital was without water for several hours because of the main break and officials told IndyStar they brought in additional water resources for patients and staff. About 4:20 p.m. hospital officials said water service was returned, but that staff working to make sure it’s safe.
The Marion County Public Health Department has closed its northeast office on East 21st Street, Mosquito and Rodent Control and the Rockville Road WIC Office.
Eskenazi Health Center Grassy Creek and Eskenazi Health Center Grande, both on East 38th Street, are closed for the day.
Boil Water advisory for large portions of the east side
In a news release sent early Thursday afternoon, Citizens Energy Group said customers should boil drinking water for the next 48 hours or until the advisory is lifted. They issued a precautionary boil water advisory for these areas impacted by the water break.
Northern Bound: Fall Creek Parkway North Drive
Southern Bound: CSX railroad tracks south of Southeastern Avenue
Eastern Bound: Shadeland Avenue to the north of Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington Avenue and Edmondson Street to the south
Western Bound: South Arsenal Avenue and Spruce Street
Citizens Energy Group warns customers not to drink water without boiling it first. Let water boil for three minutes, before letting it cool and using it, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation.
People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and elderly customers may be at increased risk if they consume water not boiled during this advisory.
Citizens is working to isolate the distribution system main that failed and restore water service to affected customers.
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Indianapolis water main break floods streets, causes outage
A water main break at East 22nd Street and Dr. Andrew J. Brown is flooding roadways, creating traffic issues and dropping water pressure March 27, 2025.
This is at least the second major water line break this year on the city’s east side.
At 6:30 a.m. Jan. 14, a water main break tore a 6-foot wide hole into the road near the intersection of North Emerson Avenue and East 10th Street. While emergency repair crews from Citizens Energy Group were driving to the scene, one car drove into the hole and had to be towed out as water gushed across the street. Several of the properties nearest to the intersection were without water for several hours.
Less than two weeks ago, the city of Lawrence was placed under a boil advisory following a water main break.
More: Road collapses near intersection of Emerson Ave. and 10th St. following water main break