WR water main break disrupts school, businesses

WARNER ROBINS — It was a challenging morning Tuesday for Greek Village co-owner Joseph Gutierrez, who was faced with helping to prepare for the lunch crowd without any water.

“No water to cook, no water for sweet tea, no water for coffee ... no water to clean all the dishes,” Gutierrez said.

In all, two restaurants, two convenience stores, Russell Elementary School, a small day care center and about 50 residences were without water after an 8-inch water main ruptured off Kimberly Road near Russell Parkway, Warner Robins Utilities Director Montie Walters said.

Greek Village co-owner Adriana Ivanus said she had to make a run to Wal-Mart for bottled water, while some customers did not stay for lunch because no pasta dishes could be served.

But the restaurant was able to offer cold sandwiches, Gutierrez said.

Walters said water was restored by about 12:45 p.m., and Ivanus was thrilled to have fresh running water again. She noted that Warner Robins Mayor Chuck Shaheen and some of the city employees who worked to repair the water main came in for lunch afterward.

Meanwhile, the school also was able to remain open, Walters said. City crews brought in about five cases of bottled drinking water for students, teachers and staff as well as about 50 gallons of water to be used to flush toilets until the water main could be repaired, Walters said.

Police initally closed westbound lanes of Russell Parkway about 7 a.m. because of the water main break, said Tabitha Pugh, public information officer for Warner Robins police. Only one westbound lane remained closed at Kimberly Road until about 11 a.m., Walters said. By early afternoon, only a short section of Kimberly Road from Russell Parkway to Patriot Way remained closed, and before the end of the work day, all was back to normal.

To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559.