'Geyser' Should Have Tipped Off Western Springs: Resident

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – A water main break on Western Springs' Forest Avenue earlier this month prompted workers to spend all night to fix the problem.

But a resident on the street said this week the village may have been able to avoid the situation.

Last summer, Hugh O'Donnell, who lives in the 3900 block of Forest, said he reported a small leak in the same spot as the water main break.

"It was like a small geyser coming up," he said at Monday's Village Board meeting. "It was there for three or four weeks. Told the village, they came out, they marked it. They said they're going to keep an eye on it, watchful waiting to make sure nothing happens."

O'Donnell said he thought it would have been a lot easier to take care of the issue in the summer than wait until an emergency on a freezing night, likely costing the village overtime.

He praised the workers who worked from 10 p.m. to nearly 6 a.m. to repair the issue on what he said was one of the coldest nights in a long time.

"The way our house is, the water pretty much was emptying completely down our driveway," O'Donnell said. "Luckily, our pumps kept working and putting it off to the side of the house."

He thanked his neighbors for helping him bail out his driveway. And he noted Western Springs Trustee James Tyrrell came by to deliver hot chocolate.

In response, Village President Heidi Rudolph said, "Thanks very much for bringing that to our attention. Sorry that it happened."