The Inter-Mountain photos by Brad Johnson Water flows across the street Wednesday evening as City of Elkins crews work to fix a water leak near the Jennings Randolph Federal Building.

ELKINS — Elkins City Water Department officials hope to have the “pretty bad” leak on Third Street fixed in the next 24 hours, officials said Thursday.

Department crews, including Public Water System Chief Operator and Manager Wes Lambert, worked at the site in front of the Jennings Randolph Federal Building since Wednesday morning, into the night and on to Thursday.

“A citizen called yesterday (Wednesday) and alerted us of the leak,” Elizabeth Roberts, administrative assistant for the Water Department, told The Inter-Mountain Thursday. “Water coming up out of the road… The crews are currently down there now working on it.”

Roberts said Thursday that the Water Department was going to try and solve it at least within the next 24 hours, but noted “it’s a pretty bad leak” and added there were “no promises.”

In a social media post just before noon on Thursday, the City of Elkins confirmed that the Water Department was still working the service line.

“Work is still being done,” the post stated. “The Water Department has had a crew working overnight, continuing this morning… We appreciate their hard work taking on this massive, sudden project. Again, thank you again for your patience.”

The City of Elkins announced Wednesday that the street would be closed from Randolph Avenue to Henry Avenue due to the water line work.

On Wednesday around 1:30 p.m., a city post stated that the area surrounding Third Street would be without water “for the next several hours.”

Then at 4:51 p.m. Wednesday, the City announced that the Water Department declared a Boil Water Advisory for two blocks. The advisory affects the two blocks bordered by Randolph Avenue, John Street, Second Street and Henry Avenue. As of press time, the Boil Water Advisory was still in place.

“(Residents in the area) should be able to access a little bit (of water),” Roberts said Thursday. “They may have low water pressure until we completely get it fixed, but that’s why the Boil Water Advisory is out, so what they do get, they can make sure they’re boiling it and it’s clean for them.”

Elkins City Water Department crews were at work Thursday morning to fix a water leak on Third Street near the Jennings Randolph Federal Building.