AUBURN – Lewiston’s main water line from Lake Auburn to its pumping station on Main Street broke late Wednesday afternoon, putting all of Lewiston on limited usage.

Water from four above-ground concrete reserve tanks on Webber Avenue and Ferry Road is being used until repairs are made.

City officials asked residents to restrict nonessential uses such as car washing until the system gets back to normal.

“At this time we feel that this will be completed by noon Thursday,” said Lewiston Public Services Director David Jones Wednesday night.

The break occurred near 181 Center St. in Auburn, snarling traffic as two of the four lanes were shut down so crews could fix the line.

The 24-inch main runs from Lake Auburn, down Center Street and crosses into Lewiston along the floor of the Androscoggin River under the Longley Bridge.

“It’s the original cast-iron pipe that was put there in the 1870s,” Jones said. “It’s more than 130 years old, so I guess we got our money’s worth.”

Jones cautioned Lewiston residents to conserve water into Thursday morning.

“We are asking Lewiston residents to avoid chores that will use a lot of water, such as washing cars, watering gardens, and filling pools,” Jones said Wednesday evening.

Jones acknowledged that his request came at a bad time, given the hot and humid weather. He was quick to point out that bathing, cooking, drinking and other day-to-day uses could be continued as usual.

In order to restore Lewiston’s water supply, the broken section of the main must be removed from the ground and replaced. The Lewiston Water Department planned on working through the night.

Jones said the pipe likely would be fixed by noon today.

The work will disrupt Center Street between the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge and Union Street Bypass so commuters should find an alternate route, Jones advised.

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