Community Corner

Ruptured Water Line in Scott Floods Neighborhood

One home was flooded and a dozen others were without water for hours.

A water main ruptured early Thursday morning, leaving a Scott Township neighborhood without water on the hottest day of the year.

The 6-inch waterline burst around 4:30 a.m. at Somerville and Shireville drives, flooding the basement of one home and leaving a dozen others without water for several hours.

Pennsylvania American Water crews were on the scene digging the gaping hole to repair the damage. Spokesman Gary Lobaugh said the crews restored water to the neighborhood around noon.

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“It’s not unusual during the summer months, when we have peak demand, for deterioration of older infrastructure to be sped up by lots of people using water,” Lobaugh said. “The temperature of the water itself is higher, which further expands the mains.”

Kaye Paterson, who lives at the home that was flooded, said Scott police awakened her early Thursday morning to tell her of the break. She said more than 3 feet of water soaked her basement and garage, flooding many personal items, the furnace and her car.

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“Stuff in the basement is all over the place,” Paterson said. “Everything in there was pretty much knocked over and drenched.”

A disaster response team hired by PA American Water met with Paterson and is offering assistance. Still, she faces the prospect of going most of the day without water and air conditioning because crews had to shut off all utilities near her home.

“It’s still really early,” she said about the long day ahead of her. “The sidewalk’s a mess, the yard's a mess and the driveway’s a mess.”


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