Monday, January 7 2013 9:06 AM EST2013-01-07 14:06:54 GMT
Six buildings in downtown Minneapolis didn't have any running water over the weekend. Water service was restored Sunday night, but residents and business owners were told not to drink it for 24 hours.
Six buildings in downtown Minneapolis didn't have any running water over the weekend. Water service was restored Sunday night, but residents and business owners were told not to drink it for 24 hours, or to at least boil their water first.
Minneapolis officials say it's too early to estimate the cost of a water-main break that sent 14 million gallons of water gushing into downtown streets this week.
Minneapolis officials say it's too early to estimate the cost of a water-main break that sent 14 million gallons of water gushing into downtown streets this week.
City crews have finished repairing a ruptured water transmission line and are now disinfecting the system while awaiting test results confirming the water is safe to drink.
Officials say samples from the main water line will be taken on Tuesday with results expected sometime on Wednesday. Until then, a backup service is currently in place to provide water to six buildings that had been without water since Thursday.
Since test results are still pending of the temporary water supply, officials warn that it should only be used for household tasks unless it has been boiled.
The city plans to notify those in the affected buildings when the testing is complete.
Northbound Hennepin Avenue is open to traffic once more, but the two blocks of southbound Hennepin Avenue remain closed between 1st Street and Washington Avenue. Crews plan to open one southbound lane on Tuesday morning.
About 14 million gallons of water surged into the streets when the 36-inch water main was ruptured at a construction site. Since that time, crews have been working around the clock to repair the break. No damage estimate has yet been tallied.
