It was a soggy scene for those driving along Route 18. Around 4 a.m. Tuesday, a 12-inch water main break near the intersection with Ramsey Drive let water loose.<\/p>\n
“(I) woke up and there was like a river going around each side of the house,” said Mike Medlen, who lives right across from the water main break.<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania American Water crews and others soon responded.<\/p>\n
“Thought we were going to wash away,” Medlen said with a laugh. “The township was out here, digging around the drains and stuff to let it flow.”<\/p>\n
The road is open, but as of 8:30 a.m., approximately 740 Pennsylvania American Water customers were without water. Medlen said,\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Yep, we’re out of water, and that was the surprise. Woke up, no water,” Medlen added.<\/p>\n
Michelle Venneri said she was dog-sitting nearby when she heard strange noises.<\/p>\n
“I kind of figured, maybe something was wrong in the house,” Venneri said.<\/p>\n
The lack of water forced remote instruction for Trinity Area School District’s intermediate and middle school students. Joe Walker Elementary School has a tanker, so students were able to attend in-person instruction, officials told KDKA-TV.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, for those who need to go to work, life must go on.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I saw all of the water when I went to leave. I had to, like, cross a river at the end of the road. I had no choice because I had to get to work,” said Venneri.<\/p>\n
Community concern online and in person turned to a local favorite on the downward slope of the gushing water.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scotty’s Ice Cream sits along the same street where the water main broke.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Scotty’s Ice Cream is directly across the street from them, and they were taking on a lot of water,” Venneri said.<\/p>\n
The owner’s family said Scotty’s has no water damage. Like their neighbors, they, too, do not have water service.<\/p>\n
However, that won’t impact business because the ice cream store is closed to customers until it officially reopens in April.<\/p>\n
At last update, Pennsylvania American Water’s spokesman said they expect the repair to be completed around 3:00 p.m. Tuesday.<\/p>\n