CHICAGO — Residents on the city’s Northwest Side are demanding answers after a major water main break triggered overnight flooding that left at least six homes submerged. The incident, which occurred late Thursday into Friday morning on Newland Avenue near Grace Street, has resulted in a finger-pointing match between homeowners, the City of Chicago, and private contractors.
The trouble began shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday when water began to bubble up from the street. As the flow intensified, it rapidly breached nearby properties. Home video captured during the chaotic scene shows residents questioning workers on-site about why the flow was not being stopped. According to witnesses, a worker indicated they could not shut down the main because it supplied water to the nearby Bridge Elementary School.
For homeowners like Ruberto Barrera, the delay in response led to catastrophic damage. By Friday morning, Barrera discovered his basement filled with nearly three feet of water. Other neighbors faced similar devastation, including one property owner who operates a daycare center in their basement and was forced to turn away families as the facility was rendered unusable.
“No one showed up. Water all over,” Barrera said, describing the frustrating hours spent waiting for help. When he finally sought assistance, he found himself caught in a bureaucratic nightmare. “I contacted the City of Chicago, and they told me they cannot do anything about it because they hired this other company. I contact this company, and they tell me they don’t have anything to do with it.”
The Chicago Department of Water Management later confirmed that contractors were in the process of replacing a 111-year-old water main on Newland Avenue. Officials stated that crews arrived Friday morning and successfully repaired the leak by 9 a.m., with water service restored shortly after. However, the department maintained that the overnight rupture was unrelated to other scheduled maintenance in the area. The precise cause of the break remains under investigation.
The fallout from the incident has extended beyond structural damage. The city has issued a mandatory boil water advisory for buildings on North Newland Avenue, ranging from West Grace Street to West Irving Park Road, as well as two specific addresses on West Irving Park Road. Residents are advised to boil water for all consumption, including drinking, food preparation, and brushing teeth, until further notice.
As the cleanup begins, many residents remain in a state of uncertainty. With insurance companies now involved, families are left to navigate the emotional and financial toll of the incident. “Right now, I’m in limbo,” Barrera said. “I’m trying to get through it and find out what’s going on because it’s a tough situation.”
City officials have yet to clarify how they intend to assist the affected residents with the remediation of their properties.
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