Definition of "water-main" [water-main]

• In water-works, any one of the principal pipes or conduits running under streets, to which the lateral service-pipes for supply of houses on either side of the street are connected. (noun)

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "In the District, a water-main break near Michigan Avenue NE led to a power failure at a polling place after water flooded the basement, officials from the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics said in the late afternoon."
• "A recent water-main failure in Boston cut off water for 2 million people for several days."
• "Deval Patrick declared a state of emergency Saturday to facilitate the response to the water-main break."