A water main burst in Yorktown Tuesday, sending about 200,000 gallons of water gushing onto California Road near Hanover Street.

About 2,700 customers were without water immediately after the break, but that number rose to 5,000 as crews shut off surrounding pipes. They then dug up the road, working around underground gas and electric lines, to fix the 9-foot-long split.

"Usually when we see something like this it could be a pressure issue," says Yorktown Highway Superintendent Eric DiBartolo. "In summer, people use more water so we keep pressure up to keep tanks full."

Officials say two sewer drains caught most of the water, protecting nearby homes from flooding. Still, some residents were inconvenienced. One man had to use bottled water to make his morning cup of coffee.

Officials advise anyone in similar situations to run their faucets for a few minutes to allow the brown water to run clear.