Water restored to residents after Baldwin water main break

BALDWIN (WABC) -- For Candace Rabinowitz, a bad winter got a little bit worse on Friday. A 24-inch water main snapped into the bitter cold, sending a thousand gallons of water a minute pouring into the street, cutting service to Rabinowitz, her family and 250 of their neighbors. The break also forced the entire Baldwin school district to shut down.

The broken main produced a sinkhole that caused the street and the sidewalk to cave in, taking a van along with it, and toppling a tree. Both had to be removed before workers could locate the break, and begin to replace the pipe. United Water said water service was restored to all residents Friday evening.

This was only the latest in a brutal, punishing winter that has produced a record number of water main breaks on Long Island.

"It was probably some ground shift - even worse," said Brian Bruce of New York American Water.

Customers should contact New York American Water at 877-426-6999 with questions or concerns.