Putty Hill Ave. Open, Water Main Break Work Continues

Putty Hill Avenue has been reopened but repair work related to a water main break continues.

A 24-inch, pre-stressed concrete water pipe broke Tuesday afternoon, causing Baltimore City Department of Public Works crews to close the road from Old Harford Road to Perring Parkway, according to department spokesman Kurt Kocher.

The break is in the 2300 block of Putty Hill Avenue near Putty Hill Park.

Water normally delivered by the main was shut off near the break and diverted to another main, so no houses or local businesses have lost water service, Kocher said in a phone interview Tuesday.

Residents could experience cloudy or discolored water caused by the disturbance of sediment at the bottom of the pipe. If that happens, he suggests removing the aerator from the faucet and allowing the water to run until it's clear.

"When the water runs in one direction for a long time, the sediment settles and doesn't get disturbed," Kocher said. "But when we do a reverse back, changing the direction of the water, the sediment tends to get stirred up."

Work continues on the water main and damage to the roadway and sidewalk, but two lanes of traffic are able to get by, Kocher said Wednesday morning.

There is not estimate as to when all work will be complete.