Crews Battle Water Main Breaks In Shawnee

Gan Matthews, News 9

SHAWNEE, Oklahoma -- The long, hot Oklahoma summer has been especially hard on the water distribution network in Shawnee. Over 40 underground pipes have broken.

The latest was a 14 inch main trunk line in the 500 block of north Kickapoo street.

Barbara McCuen lives right across the street from the break.

"We saw three gushers across the street," she says. "And then all of a sudden all the water started coming up, and the street started popping up."

The break Monday left McCuen and other neighbors with little or no water pressure.

City crews repaired the break Tuesday, and pressure began slowly building up again.

The city's main water supply, the Wes Watkins Reservoir, is at a safe level, according to the Shawnee Utility Director.