Up to 10 million gallons of water gushes by UCLA

[NEED-A-VETTE]

Up to 10 million gallons of water gushed by UCLA after pipe breaks

A massive water line break that sent a geyser shooting up to 30 feet in the air flooded parts of Sunset Boulevard and UCLA with eight to 10 million gallons, city officials said.

The 90-year-old main line--nearly 3 feet in diameter--delivers 75,000 gallons a minute and had been gushing torrents of water for more than three hours after bursting shortly before 3:30 p.m.

As of 7 p.m., the water flow was 90% shut off, according to the Department of Water and Power.

Crews were using squeegees and water vacuums to clear water and silt from the floor of the venerable Pauley Pavilion, which underwent a $136-million renovation in 2012 and is home to UCLA basketball and other athletic teams.

On Tuesday night, more than 3-1/2 hours after the line ruptured, about an inch of water remained on the floor.

At one point, up to eight inches of water covered the main floor of the pavilion and was even higher in some lower rooms, UCLA spokeswoman Carol Stogsdill told The Times.

City officials said Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crews were working as quickly as possible to shut down three large-diameter valves. But the valves couldn't be closed too quickly because doing so could trigger additional ruptures in the web of water lines that feed the area, according to officials.

James McDaniel of the DWP said the city uses roughly 550 gallons of water each day.

"In the grand scheme, it's something we can manage," he said of the flooding.

The water had been raging for nearly two hours when Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said at 5:15 p.m. that it would take crews at least another hour to shut down the line.

Thousands of gallons of water trapped five people who became trapped in their cars as they tried to drive out the flood zone, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Water was seen inside the J.D. Morgan Center, which houses athletic staff and administration offices, the George Kneller Academic Center, UCLA's Athletic Hall of Fame and the John Wooden Center.

Water and mud also flooded Drake Stadium, the track and field facility.

Tractors on campus were dropping dirt to create embankments to try to channel torrents of water away from buildings.

Lauren Bernardy, 17, of Orange County was on the campus lacrosse field for a summer sports camp when water began flooding the field.

"All of a sudden there's water rushing and we had to grab our things. We just started running and we were being chased by water," she said.

Earlier in the day, Garcetti said on Twitter that tthe pipe involved is from 1921. He said the pipe is being “shut down now, but will take an hour to prevent shock to the system and further damage.”

The water main ruptured shortly before 3:30 p.m. in the 10600 block of Sunset Boulevard, fire officials said.

Sunset was closed in both directions from Marymount Place to Westwood Plaza, complicating the rush-hour commute for scores of drivers.

"This is the same thing you would have in any flash flood," Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Jaime Moore said.

He said that "thousands and thousands of gallons" of water had flooded the area from a 15-foot-wide hole on Sunset just a few yards from the UCLA campus.

People were evacuated from parking lots 4 and 7, Moore said.

An LAFD swift-water rescue team with four inflatable boats was at the scene, standing by in case people were stranded.

Students took off their shoes and waded across rivers of ankle-deep water on campus. Other people were showing up with boogie boards -- a move discouraged by firefighters.

"That is probably one of the most dangerous things you can do," Moore said. "For somebody to try and boogie board in this, it's just going to be an asphalt bath."

Water was as high as wheel wells shortly after the flooding began. Firefighters assisted at least three motorists.

There is a possible need for local evacuations, according to the LAFD.

Up to 10 million gallons of water gushed by UCLA; flow stopped - LA Times

[LATB]

It's a shame much of Americas infrastructure is getting old and tired.

[NEED-A-VETTE]

The pipe that burst was about 100 years old.

[Kerrmudgeon]

City officials said Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crews were working as quickly as possible to shut down three large-diameter valves. But the valves couldn't be closed too quickly because doing so could trigger additional ruptures in the web of water lines that feed the area, according to officials.

James McDaniel of the DWP said the city uses roughly 550 gallons of water each day.

"In the grand scheme, it's something we can manage," he said of the flooding.

The water had been raging for nearly two hours when Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said at 5:15 p.m. that it would take crews at least another hour to shut down the line.

Ya.....somehow I think it's a little higher than that!

I wonder how much that will deplete the reservoirs for the area. Calif is still under drought conditions right?

[island14]

Students took off their shoes and waded across rivers of ankle-deep water on campus. Other people were showing up with boogie boards -- a move discouraged by firefighters.

For some reason this does not surprise me..

[Grey Ghost]

Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks - YouTube

[Dave]

Originally Posted by LarsAtTheBeach

It's a shame much of Americas infrastructure is getting old and tired.

It's a shame that we've taken a "once an done" approach to our infrastructure, sending tax dollars to various useless programs while acting surprised that poor planning for maintenance & replacement turned into a news story.

The news story should be that LA is relying on a 100 year old main line. That it burst is pretty much "Duh"

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Often this sized 'pipe' isn't really pipe at all. It's rolled steel with a welded seam. Basically garbage.

[VatorMan]

And here I thought California was in a drought. You guys make a pool in the middle of the street !

[Stangkiller]

Originally Posted by VatorMan

And here I thought California was in a drought. You guys make a pool in the middle of the street !

So if the citizens of LA are doing jail time for watering their lawn incorrectly, or having a broken pipe of their own, and wasting just a few thousand gallons.

Just wondering which government official is getting jailed or executed for 10 Million gallons.

[C5SilverBullet]

Too bad that isn't my BMW...

[erickpl]

Originally Posted by Kerrmudgeon

Ya.....somehow I think it's a little higher than that!

I wonder how much that will deplete the reservoirs for the area. Calif is still under drought conditions right?

Not around UCLA and Sunset Blvd.

[American Made]

Originally Posted by VatorMan

And here I thought California was in a drought. You guys make a water park out of UCLA !

Fixt and

[StaticCling]

Considering all of the underground infrastructure is anywhere from 50-125 years old, this is going to become more and more commonplace in the future. And when you combine that with the fact that this city blatantly mismanages money it's a recipe for disaster.

We can't even fix our roads, let alone 500 square miles of underground water and sewage pipes.

[Wathen1955]

I heard today on the radio that it more than 20 million gallons. Also heard that the DWP policy on replacement/upgrades is 300 years. LOL

[Calif Vetteman]

Originally Posted by NEED-A-VETTE

Up to 10 million gallons of water gushed by UCLA; flow stopped - LA Times

Update on ABC 7 last night. It's now reported to be 20 million gallons.

[DJ_Critterus]

Maybe it'll cleanse the liberalism away from the college..... nah.