Video Captures Extent of Back of the Yards Water Main Damage

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 16, 2011 4:00PM

Yesterday Josh posted about a water main break in the Back of the Yards neighborhood that really cocked things up yesterday on 47th Street. Today comes video from Chicagoist Photos Flickr pool contributor Ken, aka "Artistmac," showing just how bad of a rupture this was. Ken writes:

The gushing water flowed for three blocks in either direction, then surged down side streets, alleys, and sidewalks in an area bounded by Racine, Ashland, 47th and 49th Streets, invading basements, garages, loading docks and first-floor doorways as it went. It finally stopped at the railroad viaduct that abuts 49th Street to the south.

He also said it was "ironic" this happened as Mayor Emanuel was out to rally support for his water fee increase and that this happened in the working class Back of the Yards neighborhood.

It isn't ironic; it's coincidental and not unexpected. Given the state of the city water system, it could have just as easily happened anywhere else, and it has in recent years.