‘Wall of water.’ Kendall community flooded after contractor strikes water line
A Kendall neighborhood saw its streets flooded Tuesday afternoon after a nearby water pipe was hit during construction work. Neighbors had to help clear clogged street drains to try to get the water down.
The Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department was first made aware of the flooding in the area of Southwest 97th Street and 117th Avenue around 2:30 p.m., spokesperson Jennifer Messemer said.
A private contractor struck a 16-inch pressurized water line, she said. County crews isolated where the pipe was hit and stopped the active spill. By 7:30 p.m., the pipe had been repaired, and crews were finishing restoring the area.
“It has occurred in the past, private contractors hitting lines,” Messemer said. “That’s why it is very important that before any construction is done, private contractors properly mark [the area].”
After the investigation and repairs, Messemer said if a private contractor were to be at fault for damaging the pipe, they would be financially responsible for the costs associated with repairs and area refurbishments, like fixing a damaged road.
While the flooding did not impact traffic, water rose to about shin level reaching up some home’s driveways. There have not yet been reports of property damage, she said.
One neighbor, who did not wish to be named, was just finishing getting asphalt work done on his driveway when he saw a “wall of water” gush down his street ruining the progress made.
In the about 29 years he has lived at the home, he said he has never seen that much water in the streets, even during past hurricane seasons.
He grabbed a rake and began unclogging his and other neighbor’s street drains to try to get the water down as county crews worked to plug the pipe.
“It didn’t get into the house, which is all that matters,” he said.
This story was originally published March 12, 2024 at 6:49 PM.
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