Main breaks, floods same neighborhood for 2nd time

A water main break this morning flooded the same Southwest Philadelphia neighborhood for a second time this year.

Philadelphia Water Department officials are trying to determine if today's break at 64th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard is related to the one there on July 10 that sent a torrent of water through the streets.

The 30-inch main broke about 3 a.m. and spewed water for three hours before water department workers shut off the flow, revealing streets filled with mud.

Firefighters went door to door to notify residents of the flooding.

Utility crews turned off electricity and gas to affected houses and a temporary shelter was set up at a nearby school for residents who evacuated their homes. Some decided to stay.

"This is not right," said Ronald Robinson, 41, who has lived in 64th Street for a decade.

He said residents still haven not been paid for claims from the July water main break.

"We want them to make us whole," said Robinson, who added residents were told city insurance would arrive this afternoon.

"We'll never be able to sell these [houses] now," said Mary Bradford, 52, another resident.

Clean up operations are expected to last all day.

A second water main break in the meantime this morning disrupted traffic on Route 202 in Chalfont, Bucks County.