Water Main Break Expected To Impact Service Into Friday

Work to repair a broken water transmission line was continuing Thursday evening in Middletown.

Crews from the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority used backhoes to dig down to where the main break was located outside the TD Bank on Woodbourne Road between East Lincoln Highway and Maple Avenue (Route 213).

While the heaviest flow of water had been slowed by evening, pumps were continuing to remove some water from the pit where Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority workers were digging.

“Part of the water main break has been contained, but heavy equipment needs to be placed at a valve to completely stop the flow of water,” a Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority statement said.

Numerous customers in Middletown and Langhorne Borough said water service had returned as of 5 p.m.

The Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority said in their statement that it was working to fulfill customers with “enough water to meet the increased demand in this summer heat.” They advised customers to voluntarily restrict their water usage Thursday evening.

Earlier in the day, Fire Marshal Jim McGuire said thousands of customers were without water service, including the Oxford Valley Mall and Sesame Place, shortly after the break was reported at 11:20 a.m.

Middletown had additional fire crews ready and was in communication with large senior facilities that were left without water service and water-cooled air conditioning earlier in the day.

Repair work was expected to be completed Thursday night, but water pressure and volume will remain an issue into Friday afternoon, Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority officials said.

While working to pump water out of the pit, a fire started around 4:50 p.m. Thursday and was quickly extinguished by workers and Middletown Deputy Fire Marshal Jim Bampfield.

The water main break and loss of service caused the Oxford Valley Mall and Sesame Place to close Thursday afternoon. The mall plans to reopen Friday at 10 a.m. and Sesame Place has not yet announced when they will reopen.