The Boothbay Region Water District received a report at approximately 4:30 p.m. Friday of a water main break on Eastern Avenue in Boothbay Harbor. The break was actually on the Highland Park Water Main near the intersection of Eastern Avenue. Water service to Hyland Park was disrupted due to reduced water pressure from approximately 5 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

Jon Ziegra reported the cause of the break was “frost action in the ground causing a circular split on the cast iron water main.

“Because of the cold winter and lack of insulating snow, the ground frost has driven very deep this year, occasionally moving water mains through frost action,” Ziegra said. “District personnel located the leak and made the necessary repairs. This incident was the fourth water main break of the winter season, all of which have been repaired in a timely fashion without incident.”

To excavate through heavy and deep frost, the district had to pound “the concrete-hard frost layer" over the main break with its tractor mounted jack hammer, Ziegra said.

All water mains were flushed and service was restored. Work and cleanup was completed at approximately 11 p.m.

Ziegra thanked Reny Construction for helping with the emergency excavation and providing trucking services.

BRWD expressed special thanks to Boothbay Harbor Police Officer Larry Brown for helping secure the scene and the town’s public works department for sanding the icy roads adjacent to the break and isolating Eastern Avenue from traffic.