'Severe' Water Main Break Floods 20 Homes In North Boulder
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - The cleanup is far from over for 20 homeowners in North Boulder after their basements flooded because of a water main break.
The break happened Monday at approximately 4:30 p.m. at Norwood Avenue and Cress Court and the problem couldn't be fixed fast.
Residents say water flowed until 6 p.m. The city says it got the main shut off within its 45 minute window. That's considered standard operating procedure in Boulder for water main breaks.
"We think we had it off by 5:15 p.m. and water can still flow for a while after its shut off," Boulder city spokesman Ben Irwin said. "It was clearly a severe water main break."
"The water just, it was like a dam breaking, the water just came rushing through," homeowner Andrew Stanger said.
One Oak Avenue home has some of the worst damage. In the basement, water reached as high as nearly 4 feet.
The city says they are assessing the damage. Crews finished repairing the main early Tuesday and say the pipe's age -- installed in the 1960s -- was likely why it broke.
If homeowners have damage and they want to explore filing a claim with the city.
"We want them to understand what the process is and make sure they have an opportunity to participate in the process," Irwin said.
Additional Information From The City Of Boulder
To explore filing a claim, visit bouldercolorado.gov/city-attorney/claims-against-the-city.