ELLIS — Water service was restored in Ellis between noon and 12:30 p.m. Friday, after a waterline break forced a nearly four-hour disruption.

Ellis Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman said the break was called in approximately 5:30 a.m. Friday, and water was turned off at 8 a.m. after residents were notified. A 6-inch line ruptured between 12th and 13th streets on Dorrance, in the southwest section of town, he said.

The section of street will remain closed this weekend, and crews will check the line through the weekend to ensure repairs hold.

The line was one of the older ones in Ellis, Scheuerman said, noting officials are investigating funding to improve the water infrastructure.

“The city is looking at trying to acquire a USDA grant/loan to replace some of that,” he said, noting that process is in the early stages.

Water service was shut down citywide because there was no valve nearby to allow the water to be shut off locally and because of the pressure exerted by the water tower.

“There was so much pressure on it, we decided that to do it safely, we’d shut it down,” Scheuerman said.