A water main ruptured under Auburn Way S around 1:30 pm Wednesday afternoon. The burst pipe gushed out water, flooding the roadway and neighboring parking lots. To fix the break the City was forced to shut off the water, leaving residents and businesses between 12th ST SE and M ST SE unexpectedly without water.

Water was briefly turned back on around 4:00 pm when the city believed the water main break had been repaired. Local residents who experienced cloudy or dirty water were advised to run cold water for several minutes from an outside spigot or their bathtub until the water ran clear.

Having trouble containing the leak, the city turned the water back off to readdress the broken water main. Repairs continued throughout the night until shortly before midnight.

The cause of the water main break has not yet been determined at this time. City of Auburn Communications Director Kalyn Brady stated that while the pipes at the break are older, that is not yet known to be the cause.

Brady confirmed that the city will not be providing credits due to the water main break.

The city reassured residents in a Facebook post that Auburn’s water remains safe to drink.

Updated: added information regarding credits