Massive water main break shuts down busy road in South Fayette Township

SOUTH FAYETTE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — UPDATE 10/18/24 4/36 p.m.: Pennsylvania American Water said they’ve completed repairs on the broken water main and restored service to impacted customers.

Boyce Road will reopen around 5:30 p.m.

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Wednesday morning, South Fayette Township neighbors who live along Boyce Road and close to a giant water main break, found themselves without water.

Sue Ondek says she had just finished up her shower before losing service. Her husband wasn’t so lucky.

“He was like, ‘What happened? We don’t have water,’” Ondek said.

Pennsylvania American Water says a broken 36-inch concrete cylinder water main is to blame. Officials started emergency repairs and are currently working to get it fixed.

Until then, Boyce Road from Hunting Ridge to Mayview Road is closed. Ondek, who has lived in the affected area for 35 years says, she’s used to losing water service.

“A lot, a lot. It happens often and you lose water, we haven’t had water all day,” Ondek said.

Her service was restored Wednesday, but she’s backed up on supplies.

“We keep bottled water and we have a filter in our fridge. But the water does still look a little brown to me,” Ondek explained.

Drivers who need to get to Route 19 and Washington Pike will have to detour for the foreseeable future.

Pennsylvania American Water says there are currently 15 customers who don’t have any water. Officials anticipate their service being restored on Thursday morning. There’s no ETA on when the road will reopen.

South Fayette Township Schools’ Director of Transportation says school bus drivers have adjusted their departure times on affected routes and rerouted accordingly to keep pickups and drop-offs as consistent as possible for families.

The district has worked with families who are inaccessible along Boyce Road, to make alternate arrangements for their children until the road reopens.

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