Update: Major Water Main Break Could Be Repaired This Afternoon

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

A nearly one and a half mile section of West Main Road, from Union Street to Stringham Road, remained closed to traffic Saturday morning. Local residents were allowed traffic access, including residents of Bay View Apartments.

A number of residents stopped Portsmouth Police Det. Scott Travers at the Union Street intersection to ask what was happening.

"Just boil your water," he advised a number of them.

A boil water advisory remains in effect for Middletown customers.

The water pressure dropped in areas of Middletown below acceptable limits due to the water main break on West Main Road in Portsmouth and the likelihood for bacteria contamination exists, according to a press release issued by Newport Water. 

Newport Water urges all customers in Newport and Middletown to limit water usage until the water main repair is made to allow the system to restore normal water pressure. During the repair all water for Newport and Middletown will be provided from only the Station 1 Plant in Newport.

Service to customers of the Portsmouth Water & Fire District is not affected by this water main break. For the complete boil water advisory, click here.

Employees of Newport Water, who asked to not be named, said they hoped to have the water main repaired within the hour (by 1 p.m.). However, they didn't want to put a deadline on the major repair.

"Keep your fingers crossed," said one Newport Water employee.

The water main break is the major line that connects Portsmouth, Middletown and Newport.

The break occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. Friday about 1,200 feet from the intersection of Union Street and West Main Road. The 24-inch transition line feeds water from the Laurent Valley Reservoir to the water plant at 2154 West Main Road, and all adjoining side streets.

Residents, connected to the Portsmouth Water & Fire District line, said they were unaffected by the break; however, they were awoken by the commotion during the night.

"I got plenty of water," said Jim Botelho of Redwood Road. "But, it was like this all night."

Botelho, a Portsmouth resident for 35 years and owner of the former Colonial Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant, said he was not surprised by the break.

"It's gonna happen eventually," he said.

Newport Water trucks could be seen traveling in and out of the work site throughout the morning.

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

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.

We will continue to follow this story as it develops.