Residents of Norwood Park Township witnessed an unusual spectacle on Monday afternoon when a water main break caused a geyser to shoot skyward, resulting in a flooded scene reminiscent of a water feature. NBC Chicago's Sky 5 helicopter captured the event as the break occurred near West Bryn Mawr Avenue and Manor Lane, which quickly drew a local crowd. A 48-inch feeder main was struck by a contractor, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Chicago Department of Water Management to NBC Chicago, who also stated that the issue was "mostly shut down" and repairs were expected to complete soon.
The incident didn't go unnoticed by the community, as people came out to observe the chaos with curiosity. "Everyone is coming out here. Everyone is riding their bikes through, everyone is checking it out. You don’t see this every day, and it’s taking them a while to fix it," one bystander told NBC Chicago. Despite the spectacle, fortunately, the water was clean and chlorinated, sparing the residents any immediate health concerns.
In a residential area at the intersection of Bryn Mawr and Courtland avenues, the eruption sent thousands of gallons of water into the air, flooding streets and creating a scene that caught many by surprise. CBS Chicago reported on the incident that occurred during a soil drilling operation by an engineering firm that hit the water main. "I could see the street was flooded, I noticed the water — and when I saw this, it was like the Bellagio from Las Vegas here," Anthony Marchetti told CBS Chicago. "I said, oh, this isn't good."
The Chicago Department of Water Management hastily responded, managing to to shut down the geyser. The crews confirmed their plans to begin repairs as quickly as they assessed the damage, asserting that no customers had lost water service. Neighbors were relieved to hear that there had been no immediate announcement of a boil water advisory following the break. Despite the troubling sight, initial inspections by residents found no flooded homes or backed-up sewage.
The unincorporated Norwood Park Township is surrounded by Chicago, adopting its street nomenclature for east-west streets and names from Park Ridge for its north-south corridors. This quiet enclave was disrupted by the tumult of the gusher but is better known for its darker history as the former home of serial killer John Wayne Gacy.
