CARLSBAD — A valve failure in a water main in the La Costa area caused a tall geyser of water to shoot into the air early on Monday morning, resulting in a multi-foot hole in the road.
Around 2:40 a.m., the Olivenhain Municipal Water District received reports of a water emergency near the intersection of Calle Timiteo and Caminito Malaga. They arrived on scene and saw a geyser showering the area, causing minor flooding, and a significant hole in the road caused by the water pressure from the break.
The Carlsbad Fire Department also responded to the scene.
Olivenhain Municipal Water District personnel determined that the incident was caused by a valve in the water main, located approximately two feet underground, failing. The valve was servicing a nearby fire hydrant, and contained a “significant amount of pressure,” according to spokesperson Brian Sodeman.
After shutting off the water, crews excavated the failure site, repaired the valve, and applied a cold patch to the damaged road section. Crews were still on scene as of the early afternoon, with a portion of the road closed near La Costa Avenue.
“The good news is that it’s relatively easy to repair and did not result in any customer outages,” Sodeman said of the incident.
Olivenhain Water will also be collaborating with the City of Carlsbad to fully repave the damaged portion of the road in the future.
