Businesses Not Gushing Over Water Main Break

It could be at least a week before all of the 1600 block of Walnut is back open to traffic.

There's a gaping hole in the street after a water main burst Saturday afternoon.

It  was repaired Sunday and water service to affected businesses was restored.

A Philadelphia Water Department spokeswoman says PGW and PECO have to come out to check their infrastructure around the main. 

A high power gas line sits above it.

Before re-paving the street can start, checks to the gas line have to be made.  

Stores along the 1600 block of Walnut understand the problems but they're also worried that could be bad for business.

Jin Juang, manager at the Wok, says he lost a third of his business Saturday night when Walnut was closed to traffic between 16th and 17th.

Employees at City Sports say they had to let employees go early. Employee Matt  Montrose is concerned what it could mean for sales during one of the sports store's busiest times of the year.

"It's a little  intimidating knowing because our street is closed the  traffic is going to be affected. My biggest hope is it can be resolved quickly."

This weekend's water main break is the latest in a series of ruptures this year. PWD says they don't know what caused it or how old the pipe is. What they do know is that the recently announced 17.5 percent rate hike will help to make future repairs.