Fort Worth is investigating a telecommunications contractor after crews hit a water main, sending water gushing many feet in the air before crashing into several nearby homes Monday morning.
Dan Boegner was working from home when he heard a strange noise outside at about 10 a.m.
“The wind was blowing,” Boegner said. “When you looked outside, it was almost like a hurricane.”
Boegner and several others walked outside to a stunning sight along Trinity Vista Trail.
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According to the city of Fort Worth, a telecommunications company had been installing underground utilities along Trinity Boulevard when crews pierced a 33-inch concrete water line. Crews from the Fort Worth Water Department were not involved in the digging.
“When you have a hole in the pipe, the water, which is under high pressure, comes out of that hole at high pressure, unlike when you have a split pipe and the water's just coming out of the ground. This went airborne,” explained Fort Worth Water spokeswoman Mary Gugliuzza.
The break was reported at 10:09 a.m. Gugliuzza said it took city crews 30 minutes to arrive and more than two more to cut off the affected line and several side valves that were also impacted.
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She told NBC 5 that the water was shut off at 12:47 p.m. Five homes along Trinity Vista Trail, located behind the digging site, suffered water damage.
Susie Clark’s home of 23 years appears to have sustained the worst damage and could be a total loss. She was at work when a neighbor called to alert her to the situation. One of several trees toppled by the gush of water blocked easy access to Clark’s home. Understandably upset, she allowed NBC 5 inside to see the damage done.
“My house is destroyed because of a bad contractor who hit the water line,” said Clark.
The aftermath is reminiscent of a tornado and a hurricane combined.
“I couldn’t even open my door because the water was up against the floor,” she said, signaling the water line about two feet above her entryway.
Gugliuzza said staff is gathering information from the affected homeowners and that the telecommunications company or its contractor will be responsible for damages.
A drone video showed tree damage, ripped roof shingles, and torn-up backyards.
When it happened, Martin Pacheco and his wife were at the doctor’s office. Pacheco, who owns a landscaping company, walked in and out of his house and around his torn-up backyard in disbelief. He had just finished paying off his home six months ago, he told NBC 5.
The city is investigating another issue. Before digging, companies must call 811 and request ‘locates’ to identify the locations of underground utility lines.
“There was a request made in early August, but nothing since then, and at the time, we responded by asking them to put the work on hold,” said Gugliuzza.
She stopped short of saying the crews were working without proper authorization.
“That's for attorneys and risk folks to hash out,” she said.
Clark is especially grateful for her neighbors, who have banded together to help each other through the cleanup.
“I’m just lucky me and my cats are still alive, and I’ll deal with what I have to deal with. Seventy-two years, this isn’t going to do me in,” she said. “It’s devastating, and I hope like heck whoever caused this does not have a job tomorrow. Then I hope they make him pay for some of this because it’s going to be a lot of money to fix my house.”
