By Peninsula Daily News Jefferson County Bureau
PORT TOWNSEND – An early morning water main break Wednesday under Sims Way between Kearney Street and the ferry terminal left businesses and residences without water for nearly eight hours.
Port Townsend Public Works Department crews responded to the break at about 3 a.m. when water was reported on Sims at the entrance to the Water Street stretch used for ferry overflow parking.
City Operations Manager Bob Lacroix, at the scene Wednesday, said workers dug down below the street’s surface to find a 12-inch line and water main broken.
“Water came bubbling up on both sides of the road,” Lacroix said, adding that it was unknown what caused the break – although age was a suspected cause.
A rubber and steel band was wrapped on the pipe to repair the break, he said.
The six-foot hole dug below the street was filled, compacted and topped with a concrete surface.
Water service was restored to customers at about 10:50 a.m. and the work was completed around noon.
