Operations at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine, returned to normal Monday after crews stopped a significant water leak that began Saturday and affected the water system in the town.
The leak was located between two buildings near Gate 1 and was isolated from the remainder of the shipyard's water system. Shipyard officials said the incident did not affect submarine safety or the yard's core mission.
The leak began early Saturday morning and resulted in increased demand on the Kittery Water District's system. Some customers reported discolored water, while a separate water main break Sunday left a small number of residents in Kittery Point temporarily without service.
As of 3 p.m. Sunday, the leak at the shipyard had been stopped and the affected area isolated, according to an update from the water district. Permanent repairs were expected to be completed as quickly as possible.
Carl Palm, assistant superintendent of the Kittery Water District, told WMUR-TV that the increased demand associated with the shipyard leak contributed to the water discoloration.
"So, the discoloration in water, I believe, was primarily caused by the increased need for distribution amounts," Palm told WMUR-TV. "It was taxing a system that is unused to seeing that amount of water moving through. It was taxing pumps that are unused to working at that speed and rate."
The separate water main break occurred around 6 a.m. Sunday and affected a section of Gerrish Island Road in Kittery Point, the Portland Press Herald reported. It was unclear whether the break was directly related to the increased demand caused by the shipyard leak.
The resulting brownish water was caused by sediment disturbed within the water mains and did not pose a health risk, according to the water district. Residents experiencing discoloration were advised to run water from their kitchen faucets until it cleared.
The shipyard apologized for impacts to Kittery and surrounding communities caused by the latest leak.
