Broken water main sends estimated 650k gallons of water down hill, into Lake Tahoe homes

ZEPHYR COVE, Nev. - A team from Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District (TDFPD) spent much of Sunday night pumping water out of homes after a water main broke, sending thousands of gallons of water down the hill from Zephyr Heights.

The main broke on North Martin after opening a six-inch lateral to the main pipe. An estimated 650,000 gallons of water were sent down the hill according to Fire Marshal Eric Guevin. It flowed from North Martin down US50 into Cedar Street and Lincoln Highway in Zephyr Cove.

Water went down the hillside into six homes with TDFRD diverting water away from many homes. They spent several hours in the area, pumping out basements and redirecting water.

TDFPD was able to isolate and shut off the valve, and Douglas County sent a damage assessment team up the hill Monday to evaluate the homes, according to Guevin. The County is working with the homeowners' insurance companies.
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The Nevada Department of Transportation said the hillside is stable. Much of the ground is still frozen and complete evaluation will have to wait, said Guevin.