ORLANDO, Fla. — Crews are working to repair a broken 80-year-old water line that broke, causing Summerlin Avenue to shut down Wednesday between Jackson Street and South Street in downtown Orlando.
Orlando Utilities Commission officials said the line ruptured at about 12 a.m., turning Summerlin into a rushing river and flooding at least one nearby home.
"We've been renting this duplex for about nine years," said Robert Van Trump, whose home was inundated with about an inch of water. "This is the first time we actually flooded, even with all the hurricanes over the years."
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Van Trump said the water may have damaged some paintings from his mother-in-law. "Those are kind of like heirlooms," he said.
"We have a significant maintenance program. We try to do everything we can to try and prevent things like this. Unfortunately, they do occur," said OUC spokesperson Tim Trudell.
🚧Road Closed🚧
— Racquel Asa (@RAsaWFTV) August 29, 2018
Summerlin Ave closed at South St. @OUCreliableone says residents by water main break will be under precautionary boil water 🚨 alert 🚨 for the next 48 hours
📺: until 7am on @WFTV
📺: until 9am on TV27 (Spectrum 1027; DirectTV 27)
📱: https://t.co/gbXy5Z5he5 pic.twitter.com/rYhXSLhZVN
Cox Media Group