Broken Pipe Ends School Early

Published Sept. 28, 2009 at 9:50 p.m.
Thousands of people in Jefferson County woke up without water Monday morning.

Overnight a 16 inch pipe from the Birmingham Water Works Board's treatment facility in Forestdale burst.

Spokeswoman Binnie Myles says the break was discovered around 3AM about a mile west of the treatment facility.

While the BWWB has not concluded what actually caused the break, a missing fire hydrant several hundred yards from the breach is being considered.

Myles says that crews went looking for the hydrant to inspect its condition after the broken pipe had been discovered, Myles adds that it appeared to have been taken out during a car accident.

Crews spent the full morning excavating and replacing the twenty foot section of pipe.

During that time homes and businesses in Adamsville, Sandusky, and Pratt City were all without water.

The water main also supplied water to five Jefferson County Schools each of which had to be dismissed before noon because hot water is needed for kitchen staff to serve lunch.

Hillview Elementary Principal Jo'Netta Terry says that parents were called using Jefferson County's automated notification system to ensure that all students had some place to go.

Tiffany Hunnicutt was notified through the system and chose to check her daughter out early to beat the rush of parents to the school.

"Anything can happen at any time, so as a parent, you should usually be prepared for anything."

With water restored, schools will reopen on Tuesday.


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