ANDOVER — Between 20 and 25 homes were without water yesterday after an underground main broke near the intersection of Central Street and Lupine Road at about 8:30 a.m., said Water and Sewer Superintendent Morris Gray.
To repair the break, workers had to shut down the main and remove 6 feet of underground pipe.
Water service was shut off to nearby Henderson and Marion avenues and portions of Central Street.
No homes on Lupine road lost service, and the majority of homes on Central Street and other surrounding roads likely experienced a drop in water pressure, he said.
The town planned to run fire hydrants to flush discolored water when repairs were completed.
Gray said the break was reported by a passer-by yesterday morning. "They saw water running down the gutter line," said Gray. "As they said it, it didn't look like the snow bank was melting."
Gray said water main breaks are typically caused by ground movement, frost or aging pipes.Yesterday's break was caused by a split in the pipe, located approximately 5 1/2 feet below ground, he said.
Several major water main breaks have occurred in town in the last six months.
Hundreds of residents were affected Oct. 26 when a pipe broke on River Road. Some residents on nearby streets were left with discolored water for nearly a week.
On Nov. 4, there was a break in a pipe on Shattuck Road.
The town typically alerts residents of water main breaks through its Web site and on local access television.
Gray said repairs to water mains are considered regular maintenance for his crews.
"It's typical," said Gray of the recent breaks. "This year isn't extraordinary. It's probably right on track with what we usually see."
