This Water Main Break Stinks

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.

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