Two water main breaks were reported on Mercer Island within hours of each other, all while the City of Mercer Island is attempting to catch up on replacing aging infrastructure.
The first break was reported just before 6 p.m. Tuesday night near SE 83rd Street and East Mercer Way.
Wednesday morning, the city reported another break near SE 76th St and East Mercer Way, near Clarke Beach Park.
Dennis Broch said his home was affected, so he melted ice for water to brush his teeth.
“We couldn’t do everything we wanted to do, but we improvised, and that’s what you have to do.” Broch said, “Thank goodness we didn’t have to improvise long.”
Fifty five homes were impacted in total, according to the city. 50 of them had water restored by Wednesday, like Broch’s.
The City warns people may experience discolored water, but it is still safe to drink and will improve with time. Crews are also checking the surrounding roadway for structural damage and monitoring for any flooding into nearby homes.
Crews worked overnight to bring back water service, but the city says the line will have to be replaced, closing down East Mercer way from 76th through 78th for at least three days, creating a detour to the other side of the Island.
“The crews have been great. Really polite and working hard,” said Wright, another resident of the Island impacted by the break and was driving around the closure.
While the City of Mercer Island hasn’t identified a cause, a water main break in April 2024 caused concerns of a landside, an evacuation of a neighborhood, and water restrictions—none of which is a concern in the two latest breaks. It comes as the city says it is working to address aging infrastructure.
In a statement, Ali Speitz, the chief of administration for the city of Mercer Island, said:
“The City of Mercer Island prioritizes infrastructure replacement based on several key factors, including the age and condition of assets, history of main breaks, water quality considerations, and coordination with other projects. Infrastructure upgrades within the water distribution system go well beyond just replacing water mains—they also include hydrants, pressure-reducing valve assemblies, reservoir tanks, valves, and other critical components. We are still in the early phases of a long-term, essential period of infrastructure reinvestment. Significant work remains ahead. The City Council and staff remain committed to maintaining and improving infrastructure to ensure reliable, high-quality service for current residents and future generations.”
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