GARDINER — Some downtown businesses and apartments were without water for a couple of hours Tuesday while workers repaired a water main break.

The Gardiner Water District discovered the break late Monday on Water Street, between Vine Street and Kingsbury Street. The department fixed it Tuesday morning, according to Paul Gray, superintendent of the water district.

Workers notified about 40 customers on Water Street from Church Street to Kingsbury Street Tuesday morning before turning off their water from 8:30 to 11 a.m., Gray said.

Gray said the break was discovered whe the department noticed a usage jump of around 250,000 gallons a day for the area, “which is substantial.” Gray said there are usually around 15 breaks a year.

Water from the pipe break washed away gravel around the pipe and undermined the pavement, which had to be removed after the water was shut off, Gray said. The district took out the pavement, old cobblestone and gravel around the break with an excavator and dump truck and filled in the hole with more gravel, he said.

Gray estimated the cost of the cleanup work to be around $1,800 to $1,900. “It’s not huge money, but it’s real money, and we budget for it,” he said.

Gray said officials are still unsure what caused the break.

With many of the local pavement companies shutting down after Thanksgiving, Gray said he’s not sure if the pavement will be replaced this year.

The Gardiner Water District is a nonprofit entity, separate from the city government, and raises money for its budget through service charges to customers. It also serves the communities of Farmingdale, Randolph and part of Pittston.

Paul Koenig — 621-5663
pkoenig@mainetoday.com