Community Corner

Water Valve Break Causes 90-Foot Geyser On New Town Boulevard

A water valve break caused a tall geyser in St. Charles on Tuesday.

Updated with additional information at 5 p.m.

St. Charles crews have repaired a 6-inch water valve that broke on New Town Blvd. Tuesday morning, sending water, mud and rocks 90 feet in the air.

The valve broke just before 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and spewed water until noon when city crews were able to shut it down.

Three cars parked at Newco Enterprises near the break were hit by flying rocks.

St. Charles water crews originally thought the valve that broke was for a 16-inch water main. Debra Aylsworth, director of public works, said corrosive soil caused the bolts to corrode on the 6-inch valve, which was much easier to repair than a larger valve. 

Businesses in the area lost water for the day, but water was expected to return to normal by 5 p.m.

Aylsworth said it was a coincidence that this valve broke right after a 36-inch water main that brings water from the Howard Bend Treatment Plant into St. Charles and St. Peters split over the weekend.

Residents in both cities were under a boil order and a mandatory water conservation order for much of the weekend while crews fixed the split in the pipe, which is 25 years old.

"Water main breaks are going to happen," she said. "It’s not a planned thing, no break is a planned expense but it is routine to have water main breaks that you have to respond to."
   


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