Broken water main shuts off water to Exeter residents and businesses

EXETER, Calif. (KFSN) -- Crews in Exeter have completed repairs on a broken water main, but residents are still waiting for water to be turned back on and roads are still flooded.

By Monday evening, the water had subsided, but at one point it was at their front doorstep.

"And he said well if you've always wanted lakefront property, you've got it now," said Kathleen Brooks, an affected resident.

Exeter city officials said an electric utility company was working on a construction project on Belmont Road when they ruptured a water main 10 inches in diameter.

"Serves a large area and carries a substantial amount of water," explained Randy Groom, Exeter City Administrator .

From the start, city crews focused on flood protection and they were successful in preventing damage to any homes.

"We brought in pumps both locally and from the city of Visalia to help pump the water away from the residences. And as far as I'm aware, we kept the water from getting into any of the houses," said Groom.

By early afternoon, the water was turned off citywide.

Groom said it was necessary to clamp the line and start making repairs. It meant residents like Brooks and her nephew had to go without water for the afternoon.

"There was no place in town I could get him anything for lunch, so we had to come back here and have peanut butter and jelly."

The repair is expected to be made by Monday evening, and then the city's water system will be turned back on.

But for drinking or cooking purposes, officials are advising residents to boil their water or use bottled water for a while as a precautionary measure.

"Then we'll do water quality testing, purge the air out of the system, it will take a little bit of time. People will have some pressure issues, some air in the line. And if the water is brown, continue to boil your water, we'll do that quality testing and get everything where it needs to be," said Groom.

"Other than that it's been inconvenient but you manage. It's a difficult situation, you just get through it the best you can," said Brooks.

Until repairs are completed, restaurants in Exeter are also shut down.

They may not need water for cooking, but they do need it for hygiene purposes.