Water Main Breaks Gusher

[Howard]

Water main break destroys street near Los Angeles, California - July 29, 2014    

"All the land between New England and Mexico is being pulled at a diagonal, and it is not just the fault lines that are feeling stress. All will participate when the New Madrid Fault makes a serious adjustment."  ZetaTalk

 

Since 2013, a conspicuous number of water main breaks and sinkholes have been reported across the U.S.  While water lines commonly rupture during winter months, especially in regions experiencing subfreezing temperatures, large water mains are fracturing in southern states where ground temperatures remain above freezing.

Notable water main breaks and sinkholes during the first 6 days of 2013:

 

January 1

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania - "Super Sinkhole Walter" and 40 Others

Harrisburg officials expect it will take several weeks to repair damage from a massive sinkhole that forced dozens of residents to evacuate.

The city’s Department of Public Works said it could be another 30 days before water, sewer and gas lines are replaced in the neighborhood where the sinkhole is causing problems.  "Super Sinkhole Walter," as the North Fourth Street collapse has been called, is big enough to have its own Foursquare check-in location.

On Thursday, the massive hole partially swallowed a construction backhoe.

The hole opened Monday morning, and later opened a bigger hole.

A spokesman for Mayor Linda Thompson said the city must replace the entire water and sewer system lines on the block.
The spokesman, Robert Philbin, said new water and sewer lines will not be working for five to six weeks.

These two large sinkholes in the 2100 block of North Fourth Street are among at least 40 sinkholes covered by steel plates citywide, according to Kevin Hagerich, director of the city’s Department of Public Works.

Interactive Map of Known Sinkholes in Harrisburg

Sources

http://tribwpmt.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/2013-01-01_14-41-38_69....

http://tribune-democrat.com/local/x1303509877/Harrisburg-sinkhole-s...

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/01/interactive_map_...

 

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January 3

Malibu, California - Recurring Water Main Breaks

Another water main break in Malibu collapsed part of John Tyler Drive as crews worked to repair the leak.

A broken water main and partially collapsed road have narrowed traffic to one lane on Malibu Country Drive near John Tyler Drive.

Between 30 and 35 customers in Malibu Country Estates are without water. Los Angeles County Public Works received a call about a partially collapsed roadway on Malibu Country Drive at 9:30 a.m, according to spokesman Mike Kaspar.

Kaspar said the road is cut down to one lane for approximately 100 yards.

This is the second water main break reported in Malibu in as many days. On Wednesday, the main that supplies water to the Adamson House broke and employees from Public Works worked overnight on a temporary fix and permanent reroute of the underground pipeline. Westbound traffic on Pacific Coast Highway was cut down to one lane between Malibu Inn and Serra Road while crews made the repair.

Source

 

 

Grand Rapids, Michigan - Big Hole / Deep Water

A water main break has closed the westbound lanes of 44th Street between Division Avenue and U.S. 131 in Wyoming, Michigan

A broken valve is causing complications in repairing the break in a 16-inch water main and the road may be closed until Saturday, authorities now say.

The valve, which broke in a partially-closed position, must be replaced before the water main can be fixed, Wyoming Director of Public Works William Dooley said in a statement on Friday, Jan. 4.

The water main broke area of 44th Street SW and Clay Avenue on Thursday.

The westbound lanes of 44th Street are closed near Clay Avenue, and Clay is closed from 44th Street north to Louisiana Avenue.

Dooley said the repair is taking much longer than anticipated because of the valve problem. Water is still flowing from the main because the valve cannot be closed.

A private contractor has been called to help city crews and they expect to fix the valve this afternoon.

Dooley said the water main break has not affected drinking water to area residents.

“Once the valve has been replaced, we will start work to repair the water main and hope to have that wrapped up yet today. We recognize and apologize for the inconvenience that this has caused to businesses, area residents and motorists and are working as quickly as we can to return things to normal," Dooley said in the statement.

Source

 

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January 4

New Orleans, Louisiana - Cajun Geyser

A water main break in the middle of Adams Street near Maple poured water into the streets Friday afternoon.

Sewerage and Water Board crews arrived on the scene around 1:30 pm to address the incident.

An hour or so later, the break erupted into a full-blown geyser, showering Adams Street with water.

Water was rising on the sides of the street near several Uptown businesses, creeping up on the tires of some cars.

Source

 

 

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January 5

Atlanta, Georgia

A massive water main break caused headaches for both residents and drivers on Clairmont Road in Chamblee, more than 24 hours after it first happened.

A huge hole opened up in the road between Airport Road and Wingate Road Saturday morning. Residents in the area were without water for much of the weekend after the 30-inch water main break.

DeKalb County spokesman Burke Brennan told Channel 2 Action News that they first had to clear out the water from the hole to determine the cause before they could begin repairing it. Major damage to the road and the sidewalk could still be seen well into Sunday morning.

Brennan says the pipe's age could have been a factor in the break.

Police were on the scene to re-direct traffic away from the area near DeKalb-Peachtree Airport.

Source

 

Sacramento, California

Water main break floods East Sacramento neighborhood

A 16-inch water main broke Saturday morning, turning two streets into ponds and damaging several homes along 39th and D Streets.

Source

 

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority says that a 30-inch line broke in the Oakland/Bloomfield area near the South Millvale Bridge at Morewood Street.

Two Port Authority stations and a portion of bus routes were closed after the water main break.

The break happened in North Oakland around 6 a.m. and the Neville Ramp, Herron and Negley Port Authority stations were closed as a result, our news partners at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report.

The East Liberty station is as far as inbound buses can go and outbound buses will make it to the 26th Street Ramp, the Post-Gazette says.

Officials said the water main break exposed a 24-inch Equitable gas line.

“Public Safety is our No. 1 concern,” Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority Director of Operations Tom Palmosina said in a press release. “PWSA crew responded immediately and began isolating the leak.”

PWSA officials said that all efforts are being focused on the gas line.

Source

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January 6

Seattle, Washington

A large water main break on Sunday caused the closure of State Route 20 in Port Townsend near the ferry terminal.

Around 3 a.m., Police and Public Works responded to the 1800 block of Water Street where the break was reported near the Tides Inn and Suites.

Portions of State Route 20 pavement were raised several inches above the original road bed as pressure from the water pushed up to the surface. When crews first arrived on scene they found water running west down the road. At least one business, The Food Co-op, 414 Kearney Street, had flood damage as water rushed into the building.

The closure affects commuters traveling to the Port Townsend-Coupeville ferry route.  Detour routes for ferry traffic have been set up through city streets.

Water to at least a dozen businesses and residents was shut off but was restored by 3:30 p.m.

The Department of Transportation will not have materials available to begin repairing the highway until sometime Monday, according to Claudia Bingham Baker, WSDOT communications manager.

Detours will remain in place until crews determine the road is safe to reopen, which would occur Monday at the earliest.

The cause of the break is under investigation.

Source

[Derrick Johnson]

Water Main Break Creates Geyser In Baldwin

July 21, 2015 9:01 PM

BALDWIN (KDKA) — A water main break sent water shooting 20 feet into the air Tuesday evening in Baldwin.

According to emergency officials, it happened in the 500-block of North Street.

The geyser flooded at least one backyard, created a big hole in the road and affected one swimming pool.

“My parents have always said if the water main in front of our house broke, our house was going to be on Becks Run, so that’s what I was expecting whenever I got home, so I was a little relieved whenever I got here, but I’m still in shock,” said Jen Ewing, the owner of the swimming pool that was flooded.

Crews shut off the water while they make repairs.

Crews also shut down nearby Becks Run Road, which was flooded and covered with debris.

There’s no timetable on how long repairs will take.

Source: http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2015/07/21/water-main-break-creates-...

Google Maps 

[Derrick Johnson]

Water main break opens up sinkhole in Jersey City

JERSEY CITY - A sinkhole was created this evening by a water main break on Eighth Street between McWilliams Place and Jersey Avenue, adjacent to Hamilton Park.

United Water crews are on the scene.

United Water staffers at the scene told freelance photographer Steve Gold that the water main serving buildings on Eighth Street between Erie and Jersey avenues has been turned off and will remain off for five to six hours.

Bob Andrews, a resident of 245 Eighth St. confirmed water is off in his building.

PSE&G workers are also on the scene, but said gas lines will not be shut down.

A United Water spokesman did not immediately return a phone call to comment.

Source: http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2015/07/water_main_break_opens_u... 

Google Maps 

[Mark]

Water main break opens sinkhole near Albuquerque Uptown

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s3855409.shtml#.VauF2dDotl0

A busy Albuquerque intersection turned into a flooded nightmare when a sinkhole opened up Saturday afternoon.
The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority says a 30-inch water main break caused Indian School Road to buckle and create a sinkhole at Americas Parkway.
A woman drove her SUV into the sinkhole, but was not hurt in the incident.
The driver declined to talk to KOB, stating she'd let her insurance company handle the damages.
Albuquerque police said they responded to the water main break around 4 p.m., but the sinkhole opened up before they could block off traffic and an SUV ended up driving into it, causing damage to the front-end of the vehicle.
It took crews a little more than an hour to pull the SUV out, but it took the water authority hours to figure out which valve would shut off the water to the sinkhole.

[casey a]

Huge Alberta pipeline spill

(the pipeline was new & sensors were supposed to detect the rupture as part of the fail-safe system in place. But it didn't)

[Derrick Johnson]

Utility Crews Respond to Water Main Breaks in Hollywood, Silver Lake

Utility crews Friday morning were working to repair two major water main breaks that caused flooding in Hollywood and Silver Lake. 

The first rupture occurred about 2 a.m. in the 900 block of Robinson Street in Silver Lake, where a 6-inch cast-iron pipe burst open, according to Ellen Cheng, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

The break resulted in the opening of a large sinkhole, which partially swallowed the left rear tire of an LADWP truck that responded to the scene. A tow truck was summoned and pulled the vehicle out of the hole in the street.

The agency shut off water service at the location, affecting some 40 customers, Cheng said. It was expected to be restored by 2 p.m.

Robinson Street was closed between Marathon Street and Descanso Drive while LADWP personnel worked at the scene.

In Hollywood, an 8-inch cast-iron water main ruptured near the intersection of Cahuenga Boulevard and Cahuenga Terrace.

According to LADWP, water service was suspended for about six customers at the site.

Source: http://ktla.com/2015/07/17/utility-crews-work-to-repair-broken-wate... 

Google Maps 

[Derrick Johnson]

Water main breaks at 35th and Broadway in Everett

EVERETT, Wash. -- Crews are on the scene of water main break at 35th and Broadway in Everett, according to city spokeswoman Marla Carter.

The water started gushing around 2 p.m. and will take a couple of hours to stop.

The city of Everett said a 12-inch pipe broke. 

Only one resident is without water while they repair the break.

A few commercial businesses in the area may be without water, but they are all close for the day. A nearby storage facility may have been damaged by the break.

Carter said they haven't discovered what caused it.

Source: http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/everett/2015/07/18/everett-wa... 

Google Maps 

[KM]

http://www.rt.com/news/310135-canada-pipeline-spill-oil/?utm_source...

China-owned pipeline leaks 5 million liters of oil emulsion in western Canada

 

A pipeline belonging to a wholly owned subsidiary of China’s oil giant CNOOC Ltd. spilled five million liters of bitumen in the oil-rich province of Alberta, marking one of the largest leaks in recent history, covering about 16,000 square meters.

It is still unknown what caused the pipeline to malfunction, Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) said. 
 
The spill happened at the company's Long Lake oil sands facility south of Fort McMurray, located in northeastern Alberta. The flow of bitumen was contained to the pipeline’s route, with no negative impact on wildlife or public, according to AER spokesman Peter Murchland. 
 
The oil did not enter a body of water, but it did flow into a nearby bog, AER added.
 
The disaster was first spotted on Wednesday and AER staff arrived to the site Thursday. At this point the leak has been contained via shutting down the affected pipeline.
 
“My understanding is that the pipeline and pad site had been isolated and shut-in earlier today, effectively stopping the source of the release,” Murchland told CBC News.
 
To put the leak into perspective, 5 million liters is the amount of water held by two Olympic-sized pools.

[Derrick Johnson]

Water main rupture causes Berkeley street to buckle

July 15, 2015 9:00 am by Tracey Taylor

On Monday evening a water main rupture flooded Parker Street near Regent in central Berkeley and caused part of the street to buckle. Water gushed down the 2500 block of Parker for nearly an hour before East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) was able to shut off the flow.

The Berkeley Fire Department received a call at 5:49 p.m. alerting it to the water main break, according to BFD Deputy Chief Avery Webb. Webb said an engine responded and firefighters found the water main break to be in the roadway in front of an apartment building at 2511 Parker St. 

“East Bay Mud was notified and responded. Berkeley Police also responded and ended up shutting down Parker Street in both directions, between Hillegass Avenue and Regent Street,” Webb said. “The main break was severe enough to cause the street to bulge approximately 1 foot above its normal position.”

As the roadway became increasingly undermined by the escaping water, firefighters also decided to move a car parked adjacent to the main break beyond the bulging road surface, Webb said. They broke into the vehicle and pushed it out of the way, both to prevent the vehicle from becoming trapped and to clear the area so EBMUD could make the necessary repairs.

Webb said it took about 50 minutes from the initial report until EBMUD was able to shut down the flow of water. The water agency worked into the night on repairing the water main.

Source: http://www.berkeleyside.com/2015/07/15/water-main-rupture-causes-be...

Google Maps 

[Derrick Johnson]

Three Water Mains Broke While You Were Sleeping    

Google Maps

Water main break floods Westside neighborhood

Google Maps

Sand Springs water main break fixed.; road closed between Lincoln S...

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Could take several days for massive water main break to be repaired  

Google Maps

Airport Road Reopened After Water Main Break, Sinkhole  

Google Maps 

[Mark]

Water main break sparks massive sinkhole in Detroit

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2015/07/06...

Crews are working to repair a water main break that produced a massive sinkhole Monday on Detroit's east side.

A resident alerted the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to the yawning opening — at least a dozen feet across — in the pavement near Chene and Medbury, which was caused by an 8-inch rupture and a damaged 18-foot-deep sewer at the site, spokeswoman Curtrise Garner said.