Manchester-By-The-Sea Residents Without Water Following Water Main Break

MANCHESTER BY THE SEA (CBS) -- A water main break in Manchester-by-the-Sea caused the most of town to lose water Friday afternoon.

The break was at the intersection of School and Central in the downtown area. It happened at noon and by 5p.m., crews were able to re-establish water to 70% of the town. Crews believed the remaining 30%, a couple thousand people, would have water restored by midnight.

The pipe that broke was 100 years old.

Seven Central restaurant owner and town selectman Paul Barclay watched as the water gushed in front of his business. The lack of water forced him to close for the afternoon and night. He estimated it was a $10,000 loss.

Barclay said a 6-million dollar bond goes before the town in April to fix most of the antiquated water system. He said some of the pipes are 200 years old.

The main that broke was 6 inches and 2,600 depended in it. Barclay said re-doing the system will mean 16 inch mains.

None of the nearby buildings was damaged by the water.