Downtown water main causes flooding

COLUMBIA — A water main leak around noon Monday caused flooding at the corner of Broadway and Second Street, leaving customers on Second Street without water for two hours.

Homer Smith, supervisor of the crew working on the main, said about a foot of water flooded the streets after a valve broke off while they were attempting to connect a new 8-inch water line to the existing 12-inch line.

Otis Shields, water distribution superintendent for Columbia Water and Light, said that 15 to 20 people called in to report the flooding. Many called in after noticing water pooling at the intersection of Broadway and Providence.

Krystal Kleindienst, who works at LandAmerica Commonwealth on the corner of Broadway and Second, said the water in the street would have probably come up to a person’s shins.

“It was ridiculous,” she said.

Smith said that the leak was fixed and service was restored by 2 p.m. Water was shut off on Second between Walnut Street and Broadway while repairs were under way.