Thousands of Gallons of Raw Sewage Released on Yucaipa Roadway as Pipeline Bursts

Live Oak Canyon Road may be closed for the next "several" days while repairs are made to a pressurized sewer mainline which has leaked thousands of gallons of raw sewage into the area, water district officials said Wednesday.

The Yucaipa Valley Water District says the leaking mainline was discovered Tuesday, along the thoroughfare, just south of Interstate 10.

“The leak resulted in the release of about 2,000 gallons of untreated sewage, which was contained in the immediate vicinity of the leak,” said YVWD General Manager Joseph Zoba.  “The affected area is not over a recharge zone and there are no public or private water wells in the immediate area.”

Crews "promptly contained" the leak and reported it to the Regional Water Quality Control Board, according to a news release from the agency.

Because of the mess, Live Oak Canyon Road will be closed beginning Wednesday, July 17, so crews can excavate and repair the pressurized sewer line.  That closure will be between Interstate 10 and San Timoteo Canyon Road.

"Depending on the extent of the repairs, Live Oak Canyon Road may be closed for several days to bypass the damaged section of pipeline and complete the repairs," YVWD officials said in their news release.

Yucaipa Valley Water District provides water and wastewater treatment services to about 50,000 customers in a 50-square mile service area that includes the cities of Yucaipa and Calimesa and adjacent incorporated areas of Riverside and San Bernardino counties.