SAN DIEGO - A water main break in the South Park neighborhood left some area residents without running water and prompted authorities to shut down the intersection of Hawthorn and 31st streets, a city official said.

According to Arian Collins, a spokesman for the San Diego Public Utilities Department, the break was reported at around 7 a.m. and caused water to flow up through the broken asphalt and into the street near the intersection.

Crews had the water shut off in about an hour and between 15 and 20 customers in houses and apartments in the 3000 block of Hawthorn Street lost water service, he said.

Collins said corrosion to the 6-inch cast iron pipe near the intersection was likely the cause of the break.

Crews were working to excavate the area to reach the pipe, about 6 feet below the street, and then cut out the broken section of pipe to replace it.

Collins said service was expected to be restored around 3:30 p.m. and the intersection would be reopened by around 4 p.m.

Residents told 10News that water main breaks near the intersection have occurred before.