A water main break sent mud and rushing water across a Highbridge street early Saturday, leaving dozens of homes without water service.
Photos sent to News 12 show basements along Nelson Avenue submerged under several inches of water. The break shut off water to apartments and houses between West 167th and 168th streets.
Department of Environmental Protection crews spent the morning digging to find the source as neighbors navigated mud-covered sidewalks and a damaged roadway.
“I woke up like six in the morning and water wasn’t working,” said Jason Lopez, who lives on the block. “I went to wash my face, start my day, brush my teeth, but the water wasn’t working. I actually had to use bottled water to wash my face.”
Raquel Silverio said she had to rely on bottled water after waking up to an unexpected shutdown.
“Look, this is the way you have to do it,” Silverio said, explaining she bought jugs of water from a nearby bodega. “Everything was filled with water, and I got a daughter — how am I going to cook for her? What do I got to do?”
DEP has not said what caused the break or when service will be restored. A contractor was on site making repairs as of Saturday evening.
