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Water Main Break Shakes Houses, Leaves Hundreds Without Service In Export

EXPORT (KDKA) -- The explosive nature of a water main break in Westmoreland County was so intense it has left hundreds without water service.
 
It looks like an artillery round hit Buchanan Street in Export, but the damage is actually from the water main blowout.

"It shook the house," said one resident. "It shook it off its foundation, it was so powerful."

He lives directly beside where the Westmoreland Water Authority line let go. He's in law enforcement and asked not to be identified. But he showed KDKA his water soaked and compromised home.

"There's cracks in the walls and everything," he said.

In the first moments of the break, the man also dashed downstairs into the torrent of trouble on a rescue mission.

"The dog ran downstairs," he said. "It was so scared it didn't know what to do. I had to rescue the dog out of the water."

His pet survived the ordeal, but the house could be a different matter.

"I don't think we're going to be able to stay here," he said.

The water main rupture left many with dry taps, including Peggy Lorence. It could be 24 to 36 hours till service is restored.

"It's terrible," she said. "I don't know what I'm going to do then."

The water authority parked a water buffalo at St. Mary's Church for those affected, including the Italian American Club.

"It's not what I expected when I got out of bed this morning," said Sherry Stover, of Export's Italian American Club.

It's never a good time for something like this; however, it is Ash Wednesday and put the club's fish fry in jeopardy.

The club brought in cases of bottled water and used the water buffalo so the fish fry could go on.

And, as it turns out, the water main has had a history of fractures in the past.

RELATED LINKS:
More Export News
More Westmoreland County News
More Reports by Ross Guidotti

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