A 127-year-old water main under New York’s Times Square gave way, flooding midtown streets and the busy Times Square subway station.
New York City experienced a water emergency early Tuesday morning when a 127-year-old water main situated beneath Times Square gave way, causing flooding in the city’s bustling midtown streets and the Times Square subway station. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by aging infrastructure in the city.
The incident occurred at approximately 3 a.m. when the 20-inch (half-meter) pipe burst under the intersection of 40th Street and Seventh Avenue. The rushing water, although only a few inches deep on the streets, quickly cascaded into the Times Square subway station through stairwells and ventilation grates. The water transformed the subway tracks into miniature rivers and left train platforms drenched.
Officials from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) quickly responded to the scene, taking around an hour to locate the source of the leak and shut off the water flow. Rohit Aggarwala, the commissioner of New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection, reported that the excavation work necessitated heavy equipment and resulted in a big hole and a muddy mess at the intersection.
By rush hour, surrounding streets were reopened; however, subway service remained suspended for most of Manhattan on the 1, 2, and 3 lines that pass directly underneath the damaged pipe. Service was eventually restored but with delays.
Despite the disruption caused by the water main break, only two local businesses were left without water at the start of the workday, according to Aggarwala. He stated that the incident highlighted the need for ongoing efforts to upgrade and maintain the city’s aging water and sewer lines.
New York City has a vast network of approximately 6,800 miles (10,900 kilometers) of water mains, which is equivalent to the distance between Times Square and Tokyo. Over the past three years, the city has invested $1.9 billion in upgrading its outdated water and sewer lines. While water main breaks occur frequently in the city, with 402 incidents recorded last year, this number was the second-lowest on record, indicating progress in infrastructure management.
The cast iron pipes used in late 19th-century New York City, like the one that broke in Times Square, were renowned for their durability but typically have a lifespan of around 120 years. Aside from water and sewer pipes, Manhattan’s underground infrastructure also includes a steam energy system and an electrical system, both relying on components that were installed several decades ago.
It is worth noting that breakdowns in the city’s aging infrastructure can sometimes be catastrophic. In 2007, an 83-year-old steam pipe exploded near Grand Central Terminal, resulting in a towering geyser of scalding vapor and mud. This incident claimed one person’s life and engulfed a tow truck.
As New York City continues to grapple with the challenges posed by its aging infrastructure, efforts to modernize and maintain critical systems remain a top priority. The recent water main break in Times Square serves as a reminder of the city’s ongoing battle to ensure the safety and reliability of its infrastructure.