Road Erosion Ruptures Pipe, Spills Raw Sewage Into River
Rain and road erosion were blamed for the rupture of a Santa Clarita sewage line Saturday that was pumping about 1,200 gallons of raw sewage a minute into the Santa Clara River, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies said.
Officials said it would take up to two days to repair the pipe, which broke when rain-soaked earth gave way near a bridge spanning the Santa Clara River.
Deputies on routine patrol at 5:30 a.m. examined a large hole in the westbound lanes of Valencia Boulevard near Creekside Road and discovered the ruptured pipe inside, said Deputy Benita Hinojos.
The sewage from the rupture was spilling into the river, which flows into Ventura County.
The spill posed no danger to residents, Hinojos said.
The area is mostly commercial, and the nearest residences are about two miles away, she said.
Work crews from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the county Public Works Department and road maintenance division, and the county Health Department worked all day to contain the spill and cap the pipe, she said.
Officials said they were hopeful that the spill would not weaken the concrete around a nearby gas pipe and cause it to rupture.
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