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Watch: Main Break Turns Baxter Avenue Into a River

Update 2:22 p.m. Friday: Boil Water Advisory LiftedUpdate 9:45 a.m. Friday: The Louisville Water Co. expects theEastern Parkway/Baxter Avenueintersection to be closed through the weekend. Here's more: Louisville Water has begun to repair the broken “48 inch water main that broke yesterday at Eastern Parkway and Baxter Avenue. This morning, our crews continue to excavate around the piece of cast iron pipe that broke and later today we’ll begin to install a new section of pipe. The section of pipe that broke is called a “tee” – it’s a connector to smaller water mains.Update 9:52 p.m.: The Louisville Water Co. said it has no customers without water because of the main break Thursday at Eastern Parkway and Baxter Avenue. But the boil water advisory is still in effect for about 8,000 water company customers. It'll be that way probably until Friday evening when water quality samples are in, a water company spokeswoman said. The crews have also figured out what, precisely, broke: Louisville Water crews have located the water main that broke earlier today. It is a "48 inch water main. The part of the main that broke is a "T" section where other mains connect. Engineers are developing a repair solution and our crews will be on site throughout the night.

Update 6:45 p.m.: A boil water advisory is now in effect for areas around the main break.

Update: The Louisville Water Co. expects the intersection of Eastern Parkway and Baxter Avenue to be closed "for the next few days," a spokeswoman said. The deluge was stopped and crews were excavating late Thursday afternoon to figure out precisely which main broke. The Courier-Journal's Scott Utterback sent out this photo via Twitterof the big hole left behind. Earlier: A main break sent water streaming down Baxter Avenue on Thursday. The Louisville Water Co. asked motorists Thursday afternoon to avoid the intersection of Baxter and Eastern Parkway while they work on the issue.The intersection has "collapsed" because of the break, said Kelley Dearing-Smith, a spokeswoman for the Louisville Water Co.Gray Smith, Louisville Public Media's director of development and marketing, was in the area and shot these videos:The water company said customers in the area have also experienced a loss of water pressure. No word yet on how long crews will need to fix the main or the roadway. We'll update this story when we hear more.The Louisville Water Co. said no boil water advisory has been issued as of Thursday afternoon. It said the water should be safe to drink after flushing out the lines until it becomes clear. The water company also issued a statement via Facebook on its protocol for handling main break: Our first priority is to isolate the area by turning valves to stop the flow of water. Then crews determine what it will take to return water service to the area. Once a water main is repaired or replaced, it is flushed and returned to service. Water samples are taken and customers are placed under a precautionary Boil Water Advisory. It takes about 48-hours for the test results to come back. If the results are negative, the Boil Water Advisory is lifted. At this time, we are still working to stop the flow of water. Please watch for updates and avoid the area of Baxter Avenue and Eastern Parkway.

Joseph Lord is the online managing editor for WFPL.