PORTLAND — The Portland Water District says a water main break on Bedford Street, in the heart of the University of Southern Maine’s Portland campus, probably won’t be repaired until sometime late tonight.

Robert Caswell, USM’s spokesman, said the water main break, which was reported around 11:30 a.m. today, cut off water supplies to the Wishcamper Center and the Woodbury Campus Center.

The disruption in water service meant there was no running water or bathroom facilities available in those buildings, which house the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, the Muskie School of Public Service, and the university’s cafeteria. Caswell said the cafeteria, which is inside the Woodbury Center, had to be closed at 1 p.m.

Classes did not have to be canceled. Caswell said students and faculty had access to bathrooms at the Abromson Community Education Center as well as the Glickman Family Library. Though those facilities are on Bedford Street, they did not lose water service.

Caswell estimated that more than 3,000 students were impacted by the water main break, which at one point forced police to reduce traffic on Bedford Street to one lane.

Caswell said USM’s Office of Facilities Management also lost water service.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.