Heavy rains cause sink hole, break water line
BUTLER TWP — Heavy rains Wednesday night caused a large sink hole to develop behind Moraine Pointe Plaza and left several businesses there without water Thursday.
Rain from the downpour worked its way through a paved area behind Harbor Freight Tools and washed out the dirt around an 8-inch main water line, caused the line to break and caused the huge sink hole to open up, said Sam Zurzolo, a township commissioner.
Zurzolo was at the scene Thursday helping shut off water to some businesses in the shopping center and making the sure the area was safe.
Zurzolo said he knows the shopping center well because he used to work for its owner, Oxford Development.
The force of the water also broke the concrete manhole that drains water from the parking lot, he said.
Water started pooling around the manhole Wednesday night and contractors placed barrels around the area to keep people out, and planned to fix the problem Thursday, he said.
The water flooded part of the parking lot washing mulch from the plant beds far out into the parking lot.
“That parking lot was like a river last night,” Zurzolo said. “I've never seen anything like this.”
He said the entire shopping center had no water Thursday morning, but service was restored to most of the businesses later in the day.
Open, but still without water Thursday night, were Harbor Freight, GNC, Miracle Ear, Pets in the Park, Quick Care Pediatrics and Speedy Furniture. The Cosmo Prof salon was not open.
Portable restrooms were set up behind the stores.
“We have no water,” said Greg Bures of Speedy Furniture.
He and employees at the other stores said they were not there when the break occurred Wednesday night.
Contractors are expected to repair the water line Friday.
“Everything will be back in operation (Friday),” Zurzolo said.
