This Water Main Break Stinks
By JONATHAN LLOYD
Updated 1:47 PM PST, Mon, Nov 2, 2009
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There have been a lot of water main breaks this fall, but one in Van Nuys Monday towered above the rest.
Recycled water used for irrigation and industrial purposes gushed from a streetcorner in the 7200 block of N. Van Nuys Boulevard.
Officials said the spout was caused by a ruptured 54-inch water main. Initial reports indicated the water was coming from a fire hydrant.
The break sent a geyser of water -- about as big as that Christimas tree at the Grove -- above a nearby Boston Market.
Water flowed through nearby streets, which are closed as crews work to shut off the flow.
Work crews had reduced the geyser to a small fountain in about 90 minutes. Fire officials said they had to work slowly because simply shutting down the pipe would have caused a huge surge of water pressure to hammer through other pipes, possibly damaging them.
Fire spokesman Erik Scott said a fire truck and two fire engines were sent to the area.
As of mid-October, about 40 water main breaks had been reported in LA.
First Published: Nov 2, 2009 11:09 AM PST
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