November 2, 2013-Saturday-8:40 a.m.-This morning on my walk through Chinatown along Stockton Street, as I approached the corner of Pacific Avenue...I noticed a rushing stream of water flowing along the western curbs of the 1100 block of Stockton Street. The enormous amount of flowing water was causing a miniature pond at the Pacific Avenue corner drainage. I was able to take a giant leap across the puddle, but many elders had to walk up Pacific Avenue to cross the street. As I walked up toward Jackson Street, I could see in the far distant a big gushing of water. I can also overheard several of the merchant workers explaining to customers that whoever cannot turn off the water, therefore what happened must had occurred not just the last few minutes but at least 15 minutes ago.
What happened...
The water was gushing out of the fire hydrant at the corner of Stockton and Jackson Street.
At the location were several police squad cars with officers outside keeping an eyes on the traffic and onlookers. A fire truck crew was there too with a crowbar attached to the shut-off valve---but cannot shut the water off. Everybody is waiting for whom...The Water Department!
The normal response time 45 to 60 minutes; first to arrive would be a supervisor in a pick-up truck to evaluate the situation and then a crew truck comes along to cap the opened pipe. I figure total time 1 hour and half of water down the drain when the City is facing a drought-like October month.
