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Public Safety East Village

Repair Crews Remain at Site of East Village Water Main Break

Excavation continues at 14th Street and First Avenue following a major pipe failure that flooded local basements and disrupted transit.

By Staff ReportPublished Aug 5, 2026, 12:26 PM
XE60 Articulated (6185) bus at East 14th Street/1st Ave, operates route M14D SBS, bound for Delancey St/Columbia St
Location context image: XE60 Articulated (6185) bus at East 14th Street/1st Ave, operates route M14D SBS, bound for Delancey St/Columbia St Image by N00800032. Via Wikimedia Commons. Rights status: CC0 1.0.

Maintenance crews continued work throughout Tuesday at the intersection of 14th Street and First Avenue, where a water main break occurred late Monday afternoon. The incident, which began shortly before 5 p.m. on August 3, caused water to flood the roadway and seep into nearby basements.

As of Tuesday, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has expanded the excavation area to facilitate ongoing infrastructure repairs. The agency is coordinating with Con Edison to assess the damage and restore service. While the exact cause of the failure remains under investigation, the break necessitated a temporary water service shutdown for buildings located on the east side of First Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets.

To support residents and business owners affected by the outage, the DEP has deployed a mobile "Water on the Go" station. The unit is stationed on 14th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A.

Local transit continues to face disruptions due to the emergency response. Commuters should anticipate ongoing detours for several bus routes, including the M15, M15 Select, 14A, and 14D, as the area remains restricted to traffic. City officials have not yet provided a definitive timeline for the completion of repairs or the full restoration of water service to the affected blocks.

Where it happened

14th Street and 1st Avenue, East Village

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