Water Main Break, Gas Main Damage Disrupt Life on College Street

Residents of College Street were without water for most of Monday morning after a water main broke before dawn.

City workers were called off holiday about 5:30 a.m. to repair the break, which also caused damage to a gas main.

employees responded to the broken water main, closing the street to through traffic from Woodward to Paxton. They repaired the broken main after turning off the water on the flooded street.

The break caused damage to a gas main, so the crew was unable to patch the hole in the road until a team from Consumers Energy arrived.

The gas utility had a first responder on the scene shortly after noon. Phil Ducet of Consumers Energy was unable to predict when a actual crew from the gas company would arrive.

"This is a holiday for us," Ducet said. "Calls have been made to get a team here, but it will take some time because they have to round everyone up."

Ducet said there was no danger to residents, nor was it necessary to turn off the gas main, though a distinct odor of gas was in the air about 1 p.m.

Glen Michalak arrived home shortly after noon today to find his street torn up and closed.

"I left town on Friday and came home to this," he said. Michulak was happy to learn workers were able to turn the water back in time for his arrival, and that the gas main troubles did not mean he would not have heat.

"All I want right now is a hot shower and some food," he said.

Once Consumers Energy addresses the gas main problems, city workers say they will be able to patch the road within an hour.