Water Main Break in Encino |
LOS ANGELES -- Three more water mains burst in Los Angeles Saturday, adding to the string of ruptured pipelines in the city this month.
In the latest incident, a 12-inch water main broke around 3 p.m. under San Fernando Road near Bleeker Street in Sylmar, knocking out service to at least three commercial customers in the area, said Stephanie Interiano of the Department of Water and Power.
San Fernando Road was closed between Bleeker and Hubbard streets as crews worked to repair the busted pipe, though there was no property damage, according to Interiano.
Los Angeles City firefighters responded to a break at 8765 Crescent Drive, between Laurel Canyon and Sunset Plaza in Hollywood Hills just after 9:00 a.m. Saturday.
The Department of Water and Power said it was a 6-inch steel pipe with a "pinhole leak," and no property damage had resulted.
Four or five homes lost water as the steel pipe was shut down to accommodate repairs. Street damage, if any, was minimal.
Earlier Saturday, a water main break in Encino dug a sink hole about six feet wide.
The main break at 5562 Wish Avenue was reported around 2:45 a.m., according to Los Angeles Fire Capt. Rick McClure.
The residential street borders the Balboa Sports Center portion of the Sepulveda Dam Recreational Area.
Water from the damaged pipe shot toward a parked car and two homes, prompting firefighters to put out tarps to keep them from getting soaked.
A Department of Water and Power crew shut off the water around 4:45 a.m. and began working on repairs. There was no estimate immediately available on how long repairs will take.
Last Sunday, an 8-inch water main ruptured on Lincoln Boulevard in Venice around 5 a.m., sending water flowing down the street and causing a sinkhole in the street above the pipe.
The affected area was between the Santa Monica city limits and Venice Boulevard.
DWP personnel were still working to repair the 6-inch cast-iron pipe, and 50 customers were without water, said DWP spokeswoman Maychelle Yee.
Yee said she did not believe that any homes were damaged by flooding, but the utility was investigating the damage caused.
Wish Avenue was closed between Hatteras and Martha streets.
Experts say the alarming series of recent water main bursts may be due to pressure changes caused by the city's new water rationing system.
A newly imposed city rule allows sprinklers to be run only on Mondays and Thursdays. If more water flows through city pipes on those days, and flow drops off on other days, it could put added stress on already aging pipes.
Jean-Pierre Bardet, chair of USC's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, says the water rationing system should be thoroughly investigated. He is informally consulting with Department of Water and Power officials who are investigating the possible link between water rationing and main breaks.
City engineers are testing soil samples and pieces of pipe in the areas of the main breaks, and are performing statistical analysis of the breaks.
The DWP has recorded more than 35 "major blowouts" in its water system in which streets were flooded and pavement buckled since Sept. 1.
The largest was a 62-inch truck line laid in 1917, which created a big hole in Coldwater Canyon Avenue, just south of Ventura Boulevard.
By comparison, there were 21 in all of September 2008, 17 in September 2007 and 13 in September 2006.
In the latest incident, a 12-inch water main broke around 3 p.m. under San Fernando Road near Bleeker Street in Sylmar, knocking out service to at least three commercial customers in the area, said Stephanie Interiano of the Department of Water and Power.
San Fernando Road was closed between Bleeker and Hubbard streets as crews worked to repair the busted pipe, though there was no property damage, according to Interiano.
Los Angeles City firefighters responded to a break at 8765 Crescent Drive, between Laurel Canyon and Sunset Plaza in Hollywood Hills just after 9:00 a.m. Saturday.
The Department of Water and Power said it was a 6-inch steel pipe with a "pinhole leak," and no property damage had resulted.
Four or five homes lost water as the steel pipe was shut down to accommodate repairs. Street damage, if any, was minimal.
Earlier Saturday, a water main break in Encino dug a sink hole about six feet wide.
The main break at 5562 Wish Avenue was reported around 2:45 a.m., according to Los Angeles Fire Capt. Rick McClure.
The residential street borders the Balboa Sports Center portion of the Sepulveda Dam Recreational Area.
Water from the damaged pipe shot toward a parked car and two homes, prompting firefighters to put out tarps to keep them from getting soaked.
A Department of Water and Power crew shut off the water around 4:45 a.m. and began working on repairs. There was no estimate immediately available on how long repairs will take.
Last Sunday, an 8-inch water main ruptured on Lincoln Boulevard in Venice around 5 a.m., sending water flowing down the street and causing a sinkhole in the street above the pipe.
The affected area was between the Santa Monica city limits and Venice Boulevard.
DWP personnel were still working to repair the 6-inch cast-iron pipe, and 50 customers were without water, said DWP spokeswoman Maychelle Yee.
Yee said she did not believe that any homes were damaged by flooding, but the utility was investigating the damage caused.
Wish Avenue was closed between Hatteras and Martha streets.
Experts say the alarming series of recent water main bursts may be due to pressure changes caused by the city's new water rationing system.
A newly imposed city rule allows sprinklers to be run only on Mondays and Thursdays. If more water flows through city pipes on those days, and flow drops off on other days, it could put added stress on already aging pipes.
Jean-Pierre Bardet, chair of USC's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, says the water rationing system should be thoroughly investigated. He is informally consulting with Department of Water and Power officials who are investigating the possible link between water rationing and main breaks.
City engineers are testing soil samples and pieces of pipe in the areas of the main breaks, and are performing statistical analysis of the breaks.
The DWP has recorded more than 35 "major blowouts" in its water system in which streets were flooded and pavement buckled since Sept. 1.
The largest was a 62-inch truck line laid in 1917, which created a big hole in Coldwater Canyon Avenue, just south of Ventura Boulevard.
By comparison, there were 21 in all of September 2008, 17 in September 2007 and 13 in September 2006.
