The city is working to repair the damaged pipe and restore water to those affected.
MINNEAPOLIS — A water main break prompted several businesses to close, leaving hundreds of people without water.
People who live at Rafter Apartments told KARE 11 that no one in their building had water.
Businesses along Hennepin Avenue had signs taped to their doors that they were temporarily closed.
In a statement, Adam Fetcher with the City of Minneapolis said, “Our crews have been onsite since the first report this morning working to address the situation as quickly as possible. We’ve successfully isolated the damaged pipe and we’re now working on the repair, which unfortunately includes excavating large sections of the street. We’re hopeful water will be restored late tonight. Street and sidewalk repairs will extend into early next week.”
In a social media post, the City of Minneapolis said it shut off water on E Hennepin Avenue between 2nd and 4th streets.
Crews are responding to a water main break in NE Minneapolis. Water is shut off for customers on Hennepin between 2nd and 4th Streets as repairs are underway. We will share more about restoration time when we are able. pic.twitter.com/w1XUEN3KIG
— City of Minneapolis (@CityMinneapolis) December 20, 2025
Cydney Walker was on her way to work early Saturday morning when she noticed something was wrong.
“This morning at about 4:30, I was coming up this way on Hennepin, and I saw a puddle, and I thought it was just the snow melting down the hill and then I got a little farther up the hill and realized there was fire hydrant that had been busted,” Walker said. “The whole block was flooded. We had to close early. There was so much water everywhere and it was like freezing underneath people were like slipping and falling.”
Neil was one of the people who didn’t have water for hours.
“I just don’t have water in my kitchen or apartment, no water pressure in the shower and that’s about it,” he said.
The city hopes to have the water restored by late at night, according to spokesperson Adam Fetcher:
“Our crews have been onsite since the first report this morning working to address the situation as quickly as possible. We’ve successfully isolated the damaged pipe and we’re now working on the repair, which unfortunately includes excavating large sections of the street. We’re hopeful water will be restored late tonight. Street and sidewalk repairs will extend into early next week.
“We understand the significant disruption this break has created for residents and businesses in the affected neighborhood. Most people only think about water infrastructure when something goes wrong, but City staff work every day to keep these systems working reliably. We actively invest in water system improvements based on asset management principles, and experience water main failures at a rate well below the average for a water system of our size. When a break occurs, we respond immediately to fix the situation and offer support to impacted property owners and small businesses in every way we can.”