WORCESTER — A major water main break near Worcester State University forced officials to shut down the water supply to the entire city Monday while crews worked to repair the line.

Robert L. Moylan, the city’s director of public works and parks, said a citywide water shutdown was initiated late in the afternoon at the water treatment plant off Reservoir Street to try to gain control of the 40-inch main that leads to the 30-inch main that broke earlier in the afternoon.