Streets flooded after trunkline bursts in Mission Hills; homes threatened
LOS ANGELES - A busted water main sent a river of water down streets in Mission Hills Wednesday morning and sent crews to work carefully shutting down the line "in a choreographed manner" to prevent further damage to the delivery system.
A 72-inch trunk line burst just after 3 a.m. near the intersection of Devonshire Street and Woodman Avenue and caused flooding on properties on Woodman Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
At around 10 a.m., Woodman was closed from Devonshire Avenue to LassenStreet, according to the DWP.
Trunk lines are "major arteries that deliver water between tanks and reservoirs to smaller water mains," DWP officials explained.
The large pipe located under Devonwood Park was built in 1914 and was slated for repair or replacement.
FOX 11's was at the scene and showed the flood damage on Facebook:
"A rupture on a pipe of this size requires close coordination with several LADWP district crews working at different locations, to slowly shut off valves in a choreographer manner, in order to prevent any further damage to the system," according to a statement from the department.
"As of 3:30 p.m., crews shut down 16 valves, allowing crews to begin preparing the site for excavation and repair work."
Shutting down the valves restored water pressure to "near-normal levels," but customers bordered by Brand and Roscoe boulevards to the north and south and Glenoaks and Sepulveda boulevards to the east and west were urged to limit water use for the next 48 hours, according to the DWP.
"We ask that customers check to see that their irrigation systems are turned off, as we have had substantial rain in the last two weeks," officials said.
The Rodriguez family who lives on Woodman Ave. says their garage and backyard flooded. With so much water, you can hardly see the swimming pool. They are now working to save their home.
The Rodriguez family is now working to save their home.