City of Hayward utility crews restore water service after disruption due to pipe break

HAYWARD, Calif., Jan. 29, 2018—City of Hayward utility and public works crews restored water flow to about 28 households following a break in a water main that knocked out service for approximately seven hours Sunday in the vicinity of Highland Boulevard and Margaret Drive.

The 12-inch cement pipe ruptured around 11 a.m. Sunday morning causing the roadway to buckle and a sinkhole to develop, and sending muddy water to flow down the street.

City firefighters and utilities and public works crews responded immediately to secure the area, clear debris, repair the pipe and restore service, which resumed at approximately 6:40 p.m. Sunday evening.  PG&E crews also responded and were on the scene to verify that no damage had been caused to a nearby natural gas service line.

Customers who experienced a disruption in service might have noticed a brief discoloration in water flowing from the tap once service was restored.  This should have lasted only a minute or two, and would have stemmed from agitation of customer plumbing due to the sheer force of water flow.

The cause of the break remains under review. The break’s location is in the proximity of the Hayward Fault, which crosses Highland Boulevard west of Margaret Drive and east of Sybil Avenue. Fault movement could have contributed to the break.  Pipes of the type and age that failed Sunday can fracture as result of soil movement due to the Fault movement, or “creep,” especially following periods of rain.

City crews returned to the location of the water main break on Monday morning to begin the process of road and walkway repairs.