Water Leak Forces Shutdown Of California Aqueduct

TAFT (AP) — Authorities say a break in the California Aqueduct forced them to shut down the canal that brings water to millions of Southern California residents.

Ted Thomas of the state's Department of Water Resources said Wednesday that they've found a way to bypass the break to continue deliveries south. He called it a minor leak.

The California Aqueduct begins in Northern California, and supplies 25 million residents and nearly 1 million acres of farmland with water.

Thomas says the break was first discovered Jan. 2 near Taft, a Central California community about 35 miles southwest of Bakersfield.

Thomas expects the repair to be done by Feb. 20.

He says it is unclear what caused the break in the canal's lining.

He says engineers have ruled out sinking land, called subsidence.