San Pablo Water Main Break Worries Neighborhood
SAN PABLO (KCBS) – It wasn't the water damage associated with a large water main break in San Pablo that has neighbors concerned this weekend; it's the fact that a gasoline products pipeline is underneath the neighborhood.
Repairs continued throughout the weekend near the intersection of San Pablo Drive and Fordham Street after a 60-inch East Bay Municipal Utility District water main broke on Saturday morning, flooding the neighborhood.
The ensuing hole that was created by the spewing water exposed another 6-inch pipeline owned by the Conoco-Phillips refinery in Rodeo.
Conoco-Phillips spokesperson Romelia Hinojosa said the line carries refined products from the refinery to the Richmond products terminal.
KCBS' Mark Seelig Reports:
"Our pipeline was shut down and drained of product, just as a precaution," she said.
Hinojosa said that the pipeline is likely located in the residential neighborhood because it was laid before any homes in the area were built.
Several residents in the neighborhood said they were surprised that the pipeline was underneath their home. But Hinojosa said there was never any danger for residents.
"They're not doing any work to our pipeline. We're coordinating our work to inspect and protect the pipeline as they repair their water pipeline damage," she said.
Still, some in the neighborhood said it conjured up memories of the San Bruno blast, even though that was natural gas and this pipeline is for gasoline.
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