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Hundreds Lose Water As Pipes Burst in East Bay

EBMUD

  Hundreds of Easy Bay residents have been without water since Wednesday night because of breaks in century old water lines.

As of Thursday afternoon, about 300 customers are without water while The East Bay Municipal Utility District investigates a number of leaks. They estimate 14 water main breaks in between Albany, down through West Berkeley, and into Emeryville and part of North Oakland. 

Nearby residents posted photos of flooded streets on Twitter, some several inches deep. Berkeley’s Fire Department has urged drivers to be cautious while traveling on affected streets in West Berkeley and near downtown. 

The breaks are believed to have been caused by an over-pressuring of the system by utility crew members in an area known to have pipes that are over 100 years old, some of which are made of clay.

In response to the leaks, the East Bay Municipal Utility District shut off water on some lines while they locate and repair the breaks. They expect water service to return by late afternoon on Thursday.

Imran Ali Malik was a fellow in KALW's Audio Academy class of 2020. His reporting interests are design, economy, and telling stories of invisible structures and forgotten histories.