ROCKLAND — The pressure build up from a water main break under Gay Street, in Rockland, Wednesday morning, was significant enough to cause the pavement to bulge near the break zone.

About ten minutes prior to 4 a.m., Sept. 11, 2024, a resident called 911 to report a flood of water streaming down the street toward North Main. Rapidly, pools of water accumulated at both the top of the street, near Broadway, and at the bottom of the hill, near Foundation Place. In the quiet of 4 a.m., the sound of rushing water was palpable against human ears. 

Soon, the first of two Rockland officers arrived, encountering the bubbling upspring that not only drifted down the street, but onto the lawns and driveways of sleeping neighbors. Because of the encroachment of the water toward the garage of 56 Gay Street, officers thought that, along with calling Maine Water and Public Works (for street closure gear), that the fire department could be of service in case of problems with garage flooding. At that request, two crew members from Rockland FD stood by at the scene.

The heavy flow began to slow around 4:20 a.m., and a maintenance worker for the water company was able to stop the remaining flow soon after. 

MaineWater will be working on the pipe burst through the morning.