Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Broken West Village Water Main Was Old
By
Jen Chung
Published May 26, 2008
Modified May 26, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published May 26, 2008
Modified May 26, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Photo by Erik Dane of The Foggy Monocle
The late Saturday night water main break in the West Village has left residents with water-damaged apartments and businesses in the lurch. A restaurant owner lamented about throwing away food and needing to be closed over the holiday weekend to the Daily News, "New Yorkers love to brunch and when there is a holiday weekend there is an extra day of brunch. We got hit really hard."
Residents and businesses were evacuated--some wore I [Heart] NY plastic bags to wade through the water. One basement apartment tenant described what happened in his home, "Most of my things were just bobbing in the water"--and said the water was three-and-half feet high. Another restaurant owner said while the venue wasn't damaged, "water was coming up brown" so they closed.
The Department of Environmental Protection says a 20-inch main under West 10th Street between 7th Avenue and Belecker was old. DEP First Deputy Commissioner Steve Lawitts said, "It's mostly a matter of age. Just from the number of years of freezing and thawing and other vibrations on the street, it will eventually break."
The DEP does try to replace old pipes, but they hadn't gotten a chance to replace this particular one. Though most people have been let back into their homes, clean up will continue.
Tagged
flooding
water main break
west 10th street
west village
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man shot by ICE in NYC still has bullet lodged in neck, attorneys say
Oscar Belgal, a 28-year-old immigrant from the Dominican Republic, was in solitary confinement at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Sunset Park on Monday.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Oct 12, 2026
NY measles spread prompts 'disaster' emergency. It didn't have to be this way, health commissioner says.
The state health commissioner says the disease outbreak is wholly preventable.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
News
NY measles spread prompts 'disaster' emergency. It didn't have to be this way, health commissioner says.
The state health commissioner says the disease outbreak is wholly preventable.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
NYC wants to move deliveries onto the waterways. It's starting with a 55-year-old boat.
By
Liam Quigley
Inside the luxury Greenpoint high-rise powered by a rumbling generator for over a month
By
David Brand
Mayor Mamdani orders review of NYPD use of force policies
By
Michael Sol Warren
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .