Water Main Break Floods Front Royal Neighborhood

A major water main break sent water rushing through part of Front Royal Friday night after a 14-inch line split near Commerce Avenue and Stonewall Drive.

Photos by DOK

The break happened shortly before 10 p.m. and released an estimated 6,200 gallons of water per minute. For nearly two hours, Town of Front Royal crews worked to find and shut off the valves feeding the broken line.

As the water poured out, a nearby green space filled quickly, looking like a temporary pond. Floodwater spread across nearby properties while police blocked off the area and town workers checked the damage.

Residents Thomas Duffy and Janet Kline, who live next to the break, said their homes were not damaged.

“Our houses were built to withstand flooding,” they said.

The couple said they have seen two flood events since moving to the neighborhood in 2022, but never one caused by a broken water main.

After crews stopped the flow, workers found significant ground erosion and a sinkhole near the damaged line. Robert Boyer, Director of Public Works,  estimated repairs would take five to six hours.

By midnight, utility crews and public works employees were using portable lights and heavy equipment to begin digging and repairing the main. Much of Front Royal remained without water while crews worked overnight.

The cause of the break was not immediately known.