City of Houston gives up-close view of damaged water main that caused major flooding

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It was the culprit behind major flooding when there was no rain, it stranded motorists and it backed-up traffic, not to mention causing a citywide boil water notice.

Now the City of Houston Public Works Department is giving us a close-up view of the hulking 96-inch pipe that erupted near Clinton Drive and the East Loop on Thursday.

According to previous reporting by the Houston Chronicle, the pipe responsible for the flooding and boil order was installed 35 years ago. It broke open just before noon Thursday when a city contractor began digging to repair a “gradual leak” on the water line near Clinton Drive and the East Loop, officials said, causing water to bubble onto the neighboring highway.

HoustonChronicle.com: What we know about the contractor working on Houston water main that burst 

Houston Public Works spokeswoman Erin Jones said drinking water was rerouted to other pipes in the system.

The Public Works Department said it is working around the clock to get the new water line installed.

Danny Hermosillo is the Sr. Digital News Editor for Chron.com | Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @Dannyherm1| Email him at Danny.Hermosillo@chron.com