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Extreme Temperatures Cause Water Main Breaks All Over Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The extreme temperatures are causing water main breaks all over the city, including one in Fells Point.

Meghan McCorkell has more on the growing problems caused by these frigid temperatures.

For six days, water has been gushing out of a sidewalk in Morrell Park.

"It wasn't bad at first but now it's like rapids," said Tom Holland.

He has been calling about the water main break on Deering Avenue since last Thursday. He says with each day, it keeps getting worse. As the water continues to flow and temperatures drop, most of Deering Avenue has now become a sheet of ice.

"People have been slipping and sliding, peeling out wheels. You know, the basics," said neighbor Jason McNamara.

"The city's just...ignoring us," said Holland.

But with the dramatic temperature dips, the city has been inundated with breaks.

"I mean, this is unprecedented in terms of the amount of cold weather we've had," said Kurt Kocher, Department of Public Works. "And then you get these sudden warmups and these happen."

Crews are working around the clock in difficult conditions.

Just Tuesday, another break closed down Penn North Metro Station.

On Fleet Street in Fells Point, water has flowed for four days.

"It's going to get to a point where it's just an ice slab," said Ethan Cook, owner of Fleet Street Market.

One car is already encased in ice. Others are having a hard time parking.

"No, they can't park here. I saw a scooter wipe out over there," Cook said.

And with a warmup expected this weekend, more breaks could be on the way.

Again, Public Works officials say they are working as quickly as possible, but the cold and the ice make it even more difficult for their crews.

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