Three simultaneous water main breaks cut service across Hutchinson on hottest day of year
Aging pipes burst under extreme heat and spiking demand, forcing road closures and water limits
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Sign up freeHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Three simultaneous water main breaks left Hutchinson residents without running water and closed multiple streets Monday, July 27, during the city's hottest day of the year.
As temperatures surged toward a forecast high of 108 degrees, shifting soil and spiking demand ruptured aging cast-iron pipes. City officials asked all residents to voluntarily limit their water use.
The outages cut service to neighborhoods along East 17th Avenue, Ninth Avenue, and near the intersection of Second Avenue and George Street. The disruption raised public health concerns, as residents relied on water for hydration and cooling during an extreme heat warning.
By mid-afternoon Monday, public works crews had restored water to customers along 17th and Ninth avenues. Officials said they expected repairs to the George Street break to be finished and service fully restored there by 4 p.m. that day.
The failures also snarled traffic across the city, forcing the closure of East 17th Avenue between Plum and Elm streets for extensive pavement repairs.
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