By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Several businesses lost water service Aug. 21 when a main at the intersection of 3rd and Williams Sts. ruptured, creating a small geyser in the street.

Businesses along the south side of Main St. between 1st and 3rd Sts. had no water while repairs were made.

Businesses south of the alley were not affected.

Donna Rosiere, owner of Marion Dry Cleaning and Laundry, said the water shutoff meant that the doors to the laundromat had to be locked for the third time in the business’s history.

Mayor Todd Heitschmidt said a slow leak became a big problem over time.

Public works director Marty Fredrickson said the undetected leak became a large crack in the six-inch water main.

“We were able to put a wrap-around clamp on it and stop the leak,” Fredrickson said.

Service was restored about 1:30 p.m. It will be about three weeks before repairs to the street can be finished.

That section of water pipe is not on the list of water line improvements set to begin after the city finds financing for the work.