Water pipes bursting across town

The current cold snap is bursting underground water pipes across town.

There've been three breaks over the past 24 hours, including one on Elizabeth Street that caused this big flood this afternoon on Queen Street East.

With help from homeowner Gary McDermott (shown), PUC crews cleared the area of water by about 1:30 p.m., but City Works crews were still needed to remove the six-inch-thick slush remaining on the road.

Queen Street was closed between Pine and Lake while the work proceeded but the street is again open to traffic.

Paul Dalsag, the PUC's superintendant of water distribution, told SooToday.com that a water main broke in front of 111 Elizabeth around 12:30 this afternoon, causing a 12-inch-deep torrent of water to flood across Queen Street in front of the Great Lakes Forestry Institute.

Earlier today, PUC crews dealt with a smaller pipe burst on Beatrice Street.

Last night, they dealt with a broken water pipe on Palace Drive in the P-patch.

SooToday photo coverage

Queen Street East completely clogged by water and slush PUC crew digs for a drain Queen Street East, 1:25 p.m. Sidewalk superintendants Fitzpatrick and Bicknell inspect the work