Fire Department divers this afternoon stopped a break in a major feeder line at Shreveport's water treatment plant, allowing water pressure across the city to begin returning to normal.

Water pressure was back to near normal in most of the city by this evening. 

An estimated 15-20 million gallons of water poured out before the valves were turned off after more than four hours.

A city-wide boil advisory remains in effect.

All of the city had low- to no water pressure from shortly after 8 a.m. until mid-afternoon, due to the break at the Amiss water plant on Cross Lake. The problem was worse in higher-elevation areas and outlying areas of the city, officials said.

The boil advisory was issued because the city could not be certain about the water quality. Restaurants around the city were asked to close -- but not all did. 

Residents were asked to conserve water usage until repairs were made.

Fire Department divers went into a flooded manhole at the Amiss plant and spent more than two hours shutting off six valves around the break. That process shut off a spectacular water geyser and isolated the break so that water pressure around the city could start returning to normal.

In a boil advisory, people are advised to boil water before using it in food preparation, brushing your teeth and making ice.

The break happened just after 8 a.m., sending a geyser of water from one building.

Mike Strong, director of the Department of Operational Services, said a contractor working on the feeder line did not turn off all the water at the valve, causing a blowout as they worked on it.

Strong promised a full investigation into the accident.

Amiss is the city's only water-treatment plant -- and officials acknowledged today's situation reinforced the need to build another facility.

Fire Department trucks carry secondary water sources in their tanks and fire districts outside the city were on standby in case they were needed to bring water to a fire in Shreveport.