The residents of Washington are no stranger to fire hydrant troubles. So when a DCist reader noticed that the hydrant in the photo to the right had been spewing water for some time, an email landed in our inbox. more ›

WUSA9 reports that three water main breaks are currently affecting the water supply at various locations around Northwest. D.C. Water tells the station that 20 homes are affected in each location -- see the map above for where the water's out -- and that it will likely take 6 to 8 hours to repair the breaks. more ›

Crews from D.C. Water are investigating a possible water main break located on 15th Street NW between G and H Streets. "We're working a suspected water main break there," according to D.C. Water spokesperson Alan Heymann. Heymann also reported that two nearby buildings were out of service. Based on this image of the scene, traffic in the area appears to be blocked off to allow the crews to investigate. more ›

A large stream of water, approximately twenty feet high according to one account, began shooting into the air this morning at the intersection of Mount Pleasant and Irving Streets NW. more ›

DCist food editor Jamie Liu sends in these photos from the scene of an early-morning water main break which happened just across the District line near the intersection of Friendship Boulevard and Willard Avenue in Friendship Village. A vehicle, parked on the curb of Friendship Avenue, fell into a hole created by the main break, which occurred around 6 a.m. more ›

A few people have emailed us in search of information regarding a rather large geyser of water rushing up from the ground at the corner of 14th and Euclid Streets NW this morning. D.C. Water spokesperson Alan Heymann, contacted by email, told DCist that the rushing water was not due to a main break, but was connected to the work that crews were performing in the area last night. Heymann also reminded us that "water coming up out of the ground doesn’t always mean a water main break," and that residents should call the D.C. Water Command Center at (202) 612-3400 anytime they see water flowing from the ground and are wondering what is going on. more ›

If so, you better pick up some bottled water. The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission is putting mandatory water restrictions in place after an inspection found a 96-inch water main -- the biggest of WSSC's underground pipes -- to be failing in Potomac. Repairs to fix the main are already underway. So, what does this mean for MoCo residents over the holiday weekend? Well, it means you can forget about spending the Fourth watering your lawns and gardens, washing cars or topping off swimming pools. Washing machines and dishwashers should only be used for full loads for the next four days. Finally, WSSC is also recommending the old "don't flush your toliet after every use" tip, if you're feeling particularly helpful. more ›

Several street closures are in effect this morning in Foggy Bottom due to a water main break in the area. Two westbound lanes on Pennsylvania Ave. NW at 20th Street are closed, as are parts of I Street between 20th and 21st NW, and all southbound lanes at the intersection of 21st and K streets NW. Authorities expect the general vicinity of 21st Street between K and Pennsylvania to remain a mess throughout the morning. MORE: DC WASA spokesperson Alan Heymann tells DCist the water main in question was installed all the way back in 1859. That's some old main! more ›

Do Confederate colors run? A water main break in Old Town Alexandria may put the question to the test. North Washington St. City between King Street and Duke Street, which this writer understands to be pretty important streets in Alexandria, is closed in both directions owing to a water main break that occurred at 6:30 a.m. this morning, according to ABC7. The Washington Post notes that the water main falls directly under a bronze statue of a Confederate soldier erected in 1889. As the Washington Post helpfully reports, "The statue's rear end is seen from the north." Indeed.
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