SANDY, Utah, Dec. 22, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Multiple water main breaks brought emergency crews to a Sandy neighborhood Saturday afternoon as water flooded the streets and front yards of several homes.
Battalion Chief Eric Larson, Sandy City Fire Department, told Gephardt Daily five water mains broke, with four in the area between 10800 and 11700 South and 1000 and 800 East.
The fire department was called out first, Larson said, as is standard when water is in the street. When it was determined that city water mains were the problem, Sandy City crews responded immediately.
The water mains were still being worked on at 7 p.m., and “the water guys will probably be there most of the night,” Larson said.
Residents joined city workers along a stretch of Bell Canyon Road (10845 South) frantically filling sandbags in an attempt to keep water from reaching their homes.
It wasn’t clear at first how much damage the flooding might cause, but Larson said crews were quick to get a handle on it.
“The workers were able to respond quickly to clear debris and divert the water with sandbags,” Larson said Saturday evening. “One home had minor flooding. There was some landscaping affected and debris in the yards, of course.”
Larson said the fire department had no information as to the cause of the water main breaks. Earlier in the day, however, a city worker told Gephardt Daily a malfunctioning valve was believed to be the culprit, causing a surge in water pressure that led to the spot flooding. The cause has yet to be officially confirmed.
The water that ran onto the streets and private property is clean, culinary water, Larson said. Residents need not worry about any sewage contamination.
He added that it’s especially important this time of year for everyone to remember to keep fire hydrants clear of snow and to remove any debris that could block the drains.
