Broken Water Main Sends Petroleum Bubbling To Surface On 23rd

A broken water main on 23rd Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues caused a Con Ed transformer feeder line to fail, and according to FDNY officials on the scene, sent 1,000 gallons of petroleum mixed with water bubbling to the surface.

“The petroleum acts as an insulator for the Con Ed pipe,” the FDNY told us, “and when the water line broke, it apparently broke the Con Ed pipe, too.”

The FDNY’s Hazardous Materials Unit was on the scene, and there are no reported evacuations.

We’ll be sure to keep you updated with any new information as it becomes available.

UPDATE 1:26pm: Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Heights posted the following message from Community Board 7:

PROGNOSIS: Response
HazMat- liquid
Brooklyn  23rd Street  3rd AvenueOEM 614 reports Con Edison has identified the substance as dielectric fluid from a high voltage transmission line.  The line has been de-energized.  Con Edison reports there is no PCB substance from the line.FDNY Command Post is located on the corner of 23rd Street and 3rd Avenue.  FDNY is in the process of checking basements for signs of dielectric fluid. FDNY Haz Mat is attempting to pump the fluid into temporary pools.The following agencies are en-route to the scene to provide additional assistance and resources:Various Con Edison personnel, DSNY, DEP DERTA, DOT HIQA, NYPD Traffic Control,  and NYS DEC.NYPD is diverting traffic from the immediate area and six additional traffic agents are en-route to assist with traffic control.The following street closures are in effect; 3rd Avenue between 22nd Street and 24th Street and 23rd Street between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue to vehicular traffic.OEM operations continue.