KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The city of Kansas City, Missouri, says repairs to the water main break near W. 17th Street between Main and Walnut streets are “progressing well.”
In an update Saturday, the city reports that after working through the night, crews completed repairs to the line around 1:30 a.m.
Restoration efforts include installing a new line segment and backfilling a portion of the pipe. Further repairs to the street, including paving, will begin Tuesday.
The 30-inch break Friday night caused nearby businesses and apartments to lose water, prompting KC Water to issue a precautionary boil water advisory from Main Street to Manchester Trafficway and from Independence Avenue to Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard.
“With the boil water advisory, we had to get a bunch of ice, a bunch of water and canned soft drinks,” said Taps on Main owner Grant Tower.
While residents are encouraged to boil tap water for drinking, KC Water says it is not required.
KCMO officials say the total volume of water lost was a “small portion,” and the incident will not affect residents’ water bills.
At this time, there is no known structural damage.
“The way water flowed from the break with the vacant lot diverting the flow helped in that regard,” according to a statement from the city.
Kelsey Kallenberger, general manager of Tom's Town Distilling, tells KSHB 41 water leaked into the establishment's basement.
“The basement was essentially a waterfall. In the foundation, it was leaking in all the walls," Kallenberger said. "With that sheer amount of volume, it was a waterfall. I am so grateful to my staff that helps me schlepping us out, bail us out.”
Video captured of the break shows cars being overturned and one even being sucked into a sinkhole, which Kallenberger witnessed.
“There was 30 inches of rushing water and a car was slowly teetering, and then sank into a 6-foot sinkhole," she said. "It was one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen.”
Even with the city's optimistic update on repairs, some residents are questioning when another water line may break.
“This is the third time in three days my water has been shut off,” Christy Keeling said. “It’s a little frustrating having this happen day after day after day.”
As crews continue to make repairs, KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas extended his gratitude via social media.
“On behalf of the City, I thank the crews for their hard work last night and today,” Lucas tweeted. “We regret any inconvenience to Kansas City businesses, residents, and visitors and remain committed to improving our infrastructure to avoid challenges like these in the future.”
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