A large water main broke Wednesday afternoon on Auburn Way South near 12th Street Southeast, depriving residents between 12th and M streets Southeast of water for hours.

City workers contained the break and restored water service at 12:16 a.m., and then turned to backfilling the site and restoring Auburn Way to ready it for the morning commute..

Many residents reported cloudy water from their taps after the break, but city officials said the water was still safe to drink.