Aging infrastructure believed to be cause of 36-inch water main break

ST. LOUIS – Another water main break in north St. Louis Friday is bringing concern back to residents about the city’s aging infrastructure. Many have been without water pressure for hours.

The 36-inch main break occurred near Penrose Street and Blair Avenue early Friday morning. Several residents woke up to their streets flooding and cars trapped in the water.

According to the city, crews had difficulty determining which water main to shut off as there are several within the area.

Over the years, city leaders have said the infrastructure needs updating.

“There are plans that are in effect that are going to be moving towards getting capitol improvement funds and be able to make some repairs, or actually replacements,” Mark Nankivil from the St. Louis City Water Division said.

As the situation persists, residents are growing increasingly frustrated by the prolonged delay in finding a solution to the crisis.

“They talk about how they got all this money for downtown, and they want to fix up downtown. What about these areas that need to be fixed? I could go around and tell you a whole bunch of areas that need to be fixed. And it’s sad because I grew up in this neighborhood,” Diana Yeager, a resident, said.

The issue has grown from previous incidents, including one where a geyser reached house height, according to locals. Crews say that they have a plan to address the ongoing problem.

“Once they shut the water off, then that orange pump will come on. Then they’ll pump it all out, and then that trackhoe will go over there and start digging out the mud. Once they dig out the mud then they’ll sit the ensuring box in…Then they will start entering into the hole,” Curtis Moore, TNE Trucking LLC worker, said.

The passage of the water rate increase in 2023 will aid in making replacements, according to Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer, who is the chairperson of the infrastructure and utilities committee.

“We are working on it, and that’s the most important thing to know…it’s going to have more money for infrastructure as well in various different capacities,” she said. “We have seen several water main breaks across the city in recent years; those are expensive to fix. The water division is always right on it, fixing them and doing the repairs. It’s another thing we really need to have some more money for.”

St. Louis City Water and Spire Gas Company say they are working around the clock to resolve the problem.

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