RB Water Main Break Drains 260K Gallons

Officials estimate about 260,000 gallons of water , costing the city about $700. 

Residents said they first spotted water bubbling in the intersection between 9 and 10 a.m. Tuesday, but crews did not arrive for at least an hour. By then, the bubbling water had morphed into a geyser, drenching the roofs and yards of adjacent homes.

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For more than six hours, an assembly line of water department workers rotated through the scene, struggling to shut off water to the 12-inch concrete pipe that had burst. Eventually, just before 4:30 p.m., crews were able to shut off water to a 20-inch concrete pipe that feeds the smaller one. But the fix came at a cost: 17 streets, with hundreds of residents, lost water until about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Several residents, who stood and watched the spouting water throughout the day, complained about rising water rates while the city failed to shut off the "precious" water flooding Lomica Drive.

Arian Collins, spokesperson for the Public Utilities Department, said crews are usually able to isolate the troubled water main, but couldn't do so this time, prolonging the problem. He estimated that about 260,000 gallons of water were lost, costing the city between $600-$700 at wholesale prices.

A temporary asphalt patch was placed at the main break site and the city's Streets Division should be able to schedule a permanent repair within two to three weeks, he said.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to note that the water main break was on Tuesday.