Broken water main suspected in late-night damage.

UPDATED 10:51 a.m. Tuesday

A water main that broke shortly after midnight Tuesday caused a sinkhole 5 feet deep and 10 feel
across, and disrupted water service to 35 customers on Lassen
Street in Castaic.

CHP officers responding to the scene found a geyser and
resulting sinkhole and closed Lassen Street
near the intersection of Olympic Street. The roads were reopened by morning
rush hour, but restricted to residents only.

According to Bob DiPrimio, spokesman for Valencia Water, the
problem was caused by a joint failed in the pipeline under the 14-year old
neighborhood off of Hillcrest Parkway.
Crews from the water company and the county’s Public Works responded
immediately and the pipes should be fixed no later than noon today.

“We anticipate service will be restored by noon,” DiPrimio said, noting the street fix
might take a little longer. “There are significant paving issues when this
happens on a hillside. We hope to have the street fixed by tomorrow, but the
effects are still being determined.”

Public Works spokeswoman Emma Ayala said that county crews
would have repair work completed by early next week.

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