Water main break highlights Baltimore's aging infrastructure

BALTIMORE - The water main break is still causing major headaches for drivers.

This problem isn't going away any time soon. Word now is that the road closures and repairs to the light street water main break will take about three weeks to correct.

The Department of Public Works will meet with the Board of Estimates Wednesday, requesting $31,000 in emergency funds to repair the problem that appears to be the result of time and aging on an already stressed system.

  | How to avoid the construction near water main break |

Many of these pipes, made of cast iron, brick and concrete aren't holding up, the result of which is events like what we experienced two days ago.

DPW says it increased the amount of rehab work it does each year.  Right now it rehabs less than 5 miles of line annually, but the goal is to jump that up to 40 miles a year in hopes of preventing this exact thing.

Now the water main break is a prime reason why DPW says it pushed for an increase to water bills earlier this summer.

  | Bus lines will be impacted by the construction. Click here for the latest info. |

In addition to the need to meet new Federal EPA guidelines, they city needs to replace some really, really old pipes.

The one that broke yesterday dates back to the 1880s. The pipe next to it is close to 100 years old.

How many water main breaks?

As of June there had already been 400 water main breaks across the entire system.