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‘I’ve never seen anything like it:’ Church Hill water main break creates 40-foot geyser

Posted at 12:00 PM, Jul 04, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-05 07:06:32-04

RICHMOND, Va. -- Water exploded an estimated 40 feet into the air from a water main break in Church Hill.

The water main broke just after 10 a.m. on Monday, July 4.

The original call for assistance was listed as a fire, according to officials. When  fire crews arrived on scene they spotted the broken water main. The water is going as high as 40 feet in the air, spewing up from an estimated six-foot opening in the asphalt.

The water main broke on Monday

The water main broke on Monday

Neighbors: “I've never seen anything like it."

A Church Hill couple said they called the city to report what started out as a muddy stream of water around 9 a.m.

“It was insane...I've never seen anything like it..." said Brittany Carroll.

Carroll and her boyfriend went over to check out why so much water was gushing down their street.

"It was coming from the ground and you could feel the ground pulsating under your feet,” said Daniel Hash.

After reporting their finding, the couple returned an hour later and discovered a full on geyser nearly 40 feet in the air.

“It was just gushing out of the ground like a reverse water fall almost," said Hash.

“It was over the top of the house, knocking off shingles and everything. Part of the asphalt blew off the street," said another witness.

A city spokesperson said they still don't know what caused the water main break.

Just after noon utility workers got the water main break under control. The water sprayed almost two hours.

The gaping hole has left neighbors along North 31st Street between S and Q Streets to deal with no water until 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., according to the Department of Public Utilities.

North 31st Street in the area will remained closed until repairs are done.

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