Breaking Massive Water Main Break

Update: the building at 2525 Church is owned by the Morton Grove Niles Water Commission. I incorrectly reported this as being owned by the MWRD.

On my way to get coffee this morning1, WBBM reported there was a water main break on McCormick and the road was “an ice rink”. I couldn’t help myself so I drove over there. The flooding is massive - it extends from Emerson/Golf all the way down to Dempster. WBBM reported that the burst water main was on East Prairie and Emerson, so the water was flowing downhill on McCormick.

Here’s a video I recorded near McCormick and Lake St. in Skokie, where the snow plows were serving as ice breakers. I spoke to one of the neighbors and he reported that his basement was not yet flooded.

Here’s the view closer to Golf:

I immediately thought of a prior story I wrote on the building at 2525 Church St, a pumping house, owned by the Morton Grove Niles Water Commission. I suspect they’re having an interesting day today.

Skokie School District 69 is closed today and Skokie is now under a boil order.