Water Main Break A Heavy Loss For Businesses In Cutler Bay
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A water main break in Cutler Bay is causing some major problems to business owners in the area.
The break happened overnight in a strip mall parking lot on South Dixie Highway near SW 189th Street.
The gushing water, which flooded the parking lot of the shopping center, lapped at the front doors of several of the businesses in the plaza including a Pet Supermarket, an animal clinic, a dental practice and the Cutler Ride Dialysis Center.
Patients inside the dialysis center said they were told they would have to leave.
"We were on the machine, I was getting my treatment, and they told me they had to take the needle out because the water flooded the place and we have to go home," said Ketrick Bartley.
"The told us we gotta go, we cannot stay inside there, so we had to escape through the back door," said dialysis patient Dennis Nickle.
"I'm getting my treatment. They come and say they have to take the needle out because the water is flooding," said another dialysis patient Ketrick Bartley.
But it's not just the businesses that are affected. Water has been off all morning costing at least one restaurant thousands of dollars.
"The first three hours maybe two or $3,000," said IHOP owner Percy Roqua.
The county was able to shut off the water just before 6 a.m. As the water drained, it left a big sink hole behind.
Because the break is on private property, the county's water and sewer department had to wait to begin fixing the pipe until they had contacted the property owner. They believe the break could have been caused from corrosion.
Businesses on the west side of South Dixie highway from 188th to 192nd will be under a boil water advisory until the water department lets them know it's safe.
Drying off and cleaning up is the next step for these businesses, while their neighbors hope evening crowds will make up for lost revenue.
The flooding did not cause any traffic problems on South Dixie Highway.