A water main pipe broke late Saturday evening – early Sunday morning – in the 2700 block of Nimitz Boulevard near Shafter Street, flooding nearly apartments and residences. For a second day, residents of the Point Loma neighborhood were without water. The pipe burst around 1 a.m.
“We’re looking at two blocks of Nimitz and some side street without water at this point,” a city worker said.
The City Public Utilities Department reported it as a rupture of a 16-inch cast iron water main – one of the largest in recent memory. The City is supposedly working with residents who were flooded out, trying to find them hotels in the area, and it was reported that some folks had trouble finding places to stay.
One resident is reported to have stated:
“The water pipe just made a huge hole in the ground. You can easily park a school bus in there.”
The cause of the break is under investigation. A City rep said it is probably due to corrosion. The City initially assured local residents that water service would be restored by Sunday at 6pm. Problems with equipment being used to cut the main prevented the water from flowing.
This is a recurring problem with San Diego’s aging infrastructure. There seems to be some kind of water pipe rupture every month.
In the meantime, Nimitz Blvd in that area is temporarily closed would likely remain closed until at least later in Monday.
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Monday morning city crews were able to restore water for some nearby homes. Water was turned on for all residents at about noon. And Nimitz is expected to reopen Monday evening.
The Poseidon plant will make up for this loss of fresh water.