A cast iron water main under an El Cerrito street does not announce its age. When one of those pipes lets go, the water finds the lowest door, which is often a garage.
Key takeaways
- On November 6, 2012, a 6 inch cast iron water main burst on Eureka Avenue at Clayton Avenue and sent water into at least one garage and possibly an in law unit.
- EBMUD handles the street main, and the owner handles the pipe on the property side.
- Local reporting said breaks in El Cerrito's old water mains are not rare.
- Seventy percent of the city's housing stock was built between 1940 and 1960, so older plumbing is common.
- Extraction speed limits how far water travels into walls, stored items and floors.
The Clayton Avenue break as an example
On November 6, 2012, a 6 inch cast iron water main burst on Eureka Avenue at Clayton Avenue. Water ran into at least one garage and possibly an in law unit on Clayton Avenue.
EBMUD workers slowed the flow, and two customers lost water. Local reporting also noted an earlier break at Ashbury and Central Avenues near El Cerrito High School, and said breaks in the city's old mains are not rare.
That history is a useful reminder that a main break is not only a story about the street. It is a loss that can land in a private garage.
Two customers lost water in that event, and the break shows how a failure far from a house can still end at its door.
Who handles what
EBMUD supplies water to El Cerrito from Pardee Reservoir on the Mokelumne River in the Sierra Nevada. The district handles the street main and responds to a break in it.
Once water is inside a property, the owner is dealing with the damage. That is where a restoration crew comes in.
- EBMUD: the street main and the response to the break
- The property owner: the pipe on the property side and the cleanup inside
- The insurer: coverage questions, which are answered by the policy and the claim
Why garages and lower rooms take the water
A garage often sits lower than the street side of a house and has a wide door and a hard floor. Water pushed by a main break runs under the door and spreads across the floor.
Stored boxes, cardboard, tools and wood shelves soak it up. Anything on the floor can wick water upward, and walls shared with living space can pull it along their base.
A garage that doubles as a workshop or storage room has more to lose, because tools, paper and cloth soak up water long before anyone walks in.
Garages also tend to be where owners keep the water heater, the washer or paint and chemicals, which makes a flood there more than a nuisance.
- Boxes and fabric stored on the floor
- Wood shelves and workbench legs
- Drywall at the bottom of shared walls
- Anything plugged into a low outlet
First steps for the owner
Safety is first. Water near electric panels, outlets or a garage door opener is a shock risk.
After that, the goal is to keep the water from spreading while the crew is on the way.
A crew can take over the heavy lifting once it arrives, so the owner's best contribution is a clear record of what happened.
- Do not wade into deep water if outlets or cords are submerged.
- Move items off the floor only if it is safe to do so.
- Photograph the high water mark on walls, boxes and appliances.
- Contact EBMUD about the main and the insurer about the loss.
- Keep a list of damaged items as they are removed.
Extraction, drying and a check for hidden water
A crew pulls the standing water with a water extraction setup that handles a concrete floor well. After the surface water is gone, the focus moves to what the water reached.
Wall bottoms, baseboards and the edge of any adjoining room are checked with a moisture meter. If a living space shares the wall, the drying plan covers it too.
When the damage began with a failed pipe on the property side, the repair and cleanup resemble a burst pipe water damage job, with drying done to a reading.
Items that cannot be dried, such as soaked cardboard, are listed and removed so that nothing damp is left sitting in the space.
Getting ready for the next storm and the next main
A main break is not the only way water reaches a garage. The city says cloudburst rainfall can exceed storm drain capacity and cause temporary street flooding.
El Cerrito's storm drain system empties into San Francisco Bay, so high tides combined with heavy rain can cause temporary backups in low lying parts of the city. The city has also reported extensive repairs to replace old storm drain pipes and improve flow capacity.
Sandbags are available to El Cerrito and Kensington residents and businesses from October through April, up to ten bags per household or business per year. They are filled at the El Cerrito Recycling Center on Schmidt Lane.
The handling after the water is inside is the same: extraction first, then moisture readings and drying. The storm and creek flood cleanup page covers the contamination issues that come with runoff.
- Sandbags go at the base of a garage door before a storm, not after the water arrives.
- Runoff is contaminated and needs more care than clean main water.
- Keep gutters and yard drains clear so water does not collect at the door.
Getting ready for the next storm and the next main
With 70 percent of El Cerrito homes built between 1940 and 1960, older pipes in the street and on private property are part of daily life. Heavy rain also strains the storm drains, which empty into San Francisco Bay.
The El Cerrito service page lists the water jobs handled in the city, from flooded garages to ceiling leaks, so an owner knows where to turn.
Questions
Who repairs a water main break in El Cerrito?
EBMUD handles the street main. The property owner handles the pipe on the property side and any damage inside.
How common are main breaks in El Cerrito?
Local reporting said breaks in the city's old water mains are not rare, and it noted breaks on Eureka Avenue at Clayton Avenue and at Ashbury and Central Avenues.
Can an in law unit be affected by a garage flood?
Yes. In the Clayton Avenue break of 2012, water went into at least one garage and possibly an in law unit, so connected spaces should be checked.
Why check walls after the floor looks dry?
Wall bottoms and baseboards can hold moisture after the surface dries, so a meter is used to find hidden wet areas.
What should be photographed before cleanup?
The high water mark on walls and stored items, any wet appliances, and the garage floor. Photos support an insurance claim.
Where can El Cerrito residents get sandbags?
They are available from October through April at the El Cerrito Recycling Center on Schmidt Lane, up to ten bags per household or business per year.