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Broken Water Mains Hurting Some Md. Businesses' Bottom Line

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- As WJZ has been telling you, day after the day, the city is getting hundreds of calls for broken water lines throughout the city. Crews can't keep up with the number of breaks.

Now stores without water are shut down as well as restaurants.

As Gigi Barnett explains, the city is reissuing a dire warning.

Gallons of water gushing from the ground. Blame it on this winter's record cold temperatures that cause massive breaks in old city underground pipes.

If the water's in the streets, it's not flowing inside restaurants and stores, forcing the health department to swoop in and shut them down.

"Businesses that serve food in any way need to have both hot and cold water," said Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner.

In the past week alone, Health Commissioner Leana Wen closed four restaurants and takeout stores. Without cold and hot water, business is a bust.

"You can imagine, there are lots of bacteria and viruses out there. Many ways to transmit illnesses through food. We want to keep our residents in the city safe," said Dr. Wen.

"We've got to stop the water before we can even start any repairs," said Eric Gardner, A.H. Gardner & Son Trucking Co.

Eric Gardner has just the opposite problem. He has too much water gushing into his trucking company in East Baltimore.

The problem--a massive pipe that burst on Monday. What's making it worse is that Department of Public Works employees can't find the line that supplies the water.

It's all cutting deep into his business.

"Loading of trucks in and out is cut by 50 percent. That in itself is a huge problem. We're struggling to do work outside that would usually be done right here," said Gardner.

The city says no matter what kind of business you own and whether there is no water because of a water main break or too much water inside, you can report it by calling 311.

The health department says about 5,000 businesses have licenses to serve food in the city.

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