Update: Island Water Main Line Now Repaired

Crews worked in overtime Saturday morning to repair the island's major water line, which broke late Friday on West Main Road, Route 114, near the Valley Inn Restaurant  in the southern section of Portsmouth.

Newport Water had advised all customers in Newport and Middletown to limit water usage until the repair. Saturday afternoon they reported that the 24-inch transition line has been repaired and water has been restored to those Portsmouth residents who were without it. A Boil Water Advisory is in effect for Portsmouth and for Middletown residents until further notice. During the repair, all water for Newport and Middletown was provided from only the Station 1 Plant in Newport.

Newport Water trucks could be seen traveling in and out of the work site throughout the morning. A nearly one-and-a-half mile section of West Main Road, from Union Street to Stringham Road in Portsmouth, remained closed to traffic Saturday morning. Local residents were allowed traffic access, including residents of Bay View Apartments.

The pipe is located five to eight feet underground. When asked what could have caused the break, one Newport Water employee said, "just age."

Crews at the scene early Saturday said they were called in about the break around 11:30 p.m.

"It's a major blowout," Jeff Sullivan, heavy equipment operator for Newport Water, said at the time. "This is the main transmission line for the whole island."

According to Sullivan, the break occurred on a line that feeds water from the Laurent Valley Reservoir to the water plant at 2154 West Main Road, and all adjoining side streets.

Large portions of the road were clearly visibly washed out near the Valley Inn Restaurant Friday night. Water gushed like a small stream down West Main Road.

Crews worked to repair a much larger hole in the road further up near Raytheon Integrated Systems.

The water main is mostly made out of cast iron, but switches to a transite pipe, which is also referred to as an "asbestos pipe," Sullivan said.

According to Sullivan, crews worked throughout the night to repair the water main and fix the road.

The break could have been worse for workers if Hurricane Earl had hit the island directly. Fortunately, the hurricane was downgraded to a tropical storm late Friday.

Only a few sprinkles and a light, warm breeze was felt on West Main Road near the water main break.

"Of all the things tonight, I never expected this," said Special Police Officer Barry Smith, who is retired from the Middletown Police Department.

Smith was called in for duty after sleeping for only an hour, a statement made by several other officers and crew members at the scene.

"I knew I'd get a call," he said. "I thought for a fallen tree or something like that, but not a water main break."