Nine water main breaks erupted in Lynchburg overnight Monday, prompting city officials to issue a boil water advisory for some 200 homes.
During a committee meeting Tuesday morning, City Council members learned the outbreak was caused by a clogged pressure regulation valve. The valve had become blocked by debris, preventing it from effectively controlling the pressure inside the city’s water system. An ensuing spike in pressure caused lines to start bursting.
By Tuesday morning, nine water main breaks had been reported in the Rivermont and Boonsboro areas.
Jeff Smith — a Lynchburg resident at Tuesday’s meeting — said one of the breaks occurred near his home Tuesday morning.
The outpouring of water was like a “geyser,” he said. “When I heard it go off, I thought something had fallen on my house.”
The clogged valve was fixed Tuesday morning. Crews from Lynchburg’s Department of Water Resources worked throughout Tuesday to repair the ruptured lines.
Water customers may experience low pressure, discolored water or service disruptions in the affected neighborhoods.
This mishap comes immediately after a stressful weekend for water crews, who had to issue a boil water advisory for parts of Wards Road after a construction crew at Liberty University nicked a 12-inch water line.
The advisory was in place for just over a day. It was lifted Sunday morning.
City Manager Kimball Payne said the State Corporation Commission, which regulates underground utilities, will conduct an inquiry into why the line was struck. Utility lines are supposed to be clearly marked and avoided by construction crews.
Payne said he did not know if the inquiry could result in fines or other consequences. It is extremely rare for such a large line to be hit, he said.
“This is not a normal situation,” Payne said. “I’ve never experienced this before.”
Councilman H. Cary asked if businesses hindered by the mishap could seek any financial remedy.
Payne said they would have to speak with their insurance company and the contractor. The city would not be involved.
Mayor Joan Foster said Department of Water Resources employees are “unsung heroes.”
“They have been just stellar in stepping up,” she said. “I want to tell them thank you a million times.”
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