BUCKTOWN — Early Monday, an aging cast iron water pipe burst beneath the intersection of Leavitt and Moffat streets in Bucktown, causing water to pour onto two residential streets.
The flood caused a Jeep to partially sink into the ground and a tow truck to get stuck while trying to pull out the Jeep, according to a witness who tweeted that he "woke up to a lake" outside his house.
Gary Litherland, a Dept. of Water Management spokesman, said an 8-inch cast iron water main estimated to be at least 100 years old burst just before 5:30 a.m. in the 1800 block of North Leavitt Street, at the intersection of Leavitt and Moffat.
Litherland said that crews had been working in the area two days ago, to put in a new 12-inch sewer line in the 2100 block of West Moffat Street and that the project caused the older 8-inch main at Leavitt to get exposed, possibly prompting Monday's burst.
When asked if cold weather was a factor, Litherland said age and exposure were believed to have been the causes.
"It's just the age of the [water] main, and it was exposed," Litherland said.
Residents in the area reported on a Bucktown Neighborhood Facebook page that they were without water in their homes early Monday.
The city has been gradually replacing aging cast iron mains and replacing then with ductile. Almost two years ago, another cast iron water pipe burst at Armitage and Damen, causing flooded basements.
Around 8 a.m. Monday, crews were sweeping water and assessing the situation, while a two-block stretch of Leavitt Street between Wilmot and Cortland Street was closed to car traffic.
Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) said he was trying to get the water commissioner to visit the corner and was questioning why sewer repair and road projects have been starting in December and January, rather than in warmer months.
"I'd rather see the Dept. [of Water Management] focus on water emergencies instead of creating more [emergencies] with new projects starting in December and January that are so damaging to families and neighborhoods," Waguespack said.
In addition to the water main break early Monday, a water main in the 1700 block of North Damen Avenue burst in mid-December, according to Patrick Cullen, owner of Presidio, a restaurant at 1749 N. Damen Ave.
Alan Kaplan, Cullen's landlord and owner of the building, said he was frustrated by the lack of response from city officials.
"The City of Chicago and its representatives have an obligation to respond to its citizens requests in a timely manner. We don't want Presidio operating with a wet basement. We're happy to make any repairs that are our obligation but the city needs to look into the source of the water before we can proceed," Kaplan told DNAinfo late Sunday, just hours before the next water pipe bursting a few blocks north.
Cullen said that his restaurant has been experiencing persistent ground water flooding in its basement for weeks.
"I have never seen anything approaching this level of flooding. We have been forced to shopvac gallons of water throughout the day, all day, everyday to stop the flow. Despite that, we have inches of standing water in our basement," Cullen said.
Cullen said he has called 311 four times since the week before Christmas to report the water issue and has received no follow-up communication or activity from the city.
Litherland was not immediately able to discuss the water pipe problem in the 1700 block of North Damen Avenue, nor was Waguespack.
"As I'm sure you can understand, we are all extremely frustrated with the lack of attention to this ongoing issue," Cullen said.
A basement at 1749 N. Damen Ave. has been flooded since mid-December following a water main break, building owner says. [Provided]
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