Crews fix main break after flooding in Northwest Portland streets

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Nearly 16 hours after blocks of Northwest Portland streets were flooded, the main break which caused the problem Saturday afternoon has now been fixed, according to the Portland Water Bureau.

The break was first reported at around 9:30 a.m. at the intersection of Northwest 29th and Northwest 31st Avenues just off of Northwest Yeon Avenue.

The Water Bureau said residents throughout Northwest Portland and some in Southwest Portland reported seeing the discolored water coming from their faucets as a result.

Further, around 15 properties were left without water service and a boil water notice was issued to them.

Upon arrival to fix the main, the bureau said crews reported ankle-deep water in the area surrounding the break and immediately worked to stop the water flow.

By the afternoon, four dump truck loads of sandy sediment had been removed before they could even get to the the break.

At around 8:30 p.m., crews located and worked to replace the broken pipe, a 20-foot stretch of cast-iron, measuring 16 inches in diameter and installed in 1949.

The bureau said repairs were completed by 1 a.m. Sunday and water service was restored to the 15 properties a couple hours later.

The cause of the break has not been identified at this time.