There’s still plenty of water on campus for students, but traffic might be an issue after a water main broke near Valencia High, school officials said Thursday.
“A 16-inch piece of water line broke,” said Chris Perez, operations manager of the Valencia Water Company. “When we got to the scene, we isolated the break.”
The road may be closed down for eight to 12 hours during repairs, however.
“The campus and students are safe and facilities are working and water is available,” said Hart district Spokeswoman Gail Pinsker.
A water main erupted on the southbound side of Dickason Drive next to Valencia High School around 10:30 a.m.
“The water main broke north of Smyth Drive on Dickason Drive,” said Deputy Pete Romo, of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. “Right now, they are trying to assess how extensive the damage is. Dickason Drive, between Smyth Drive and Decoro Drive is closed to the public.”
Photo: Jessica Boyer/KHTS
One parking lot entrance of Valencia High, next to Dickason Drive will be closed while the main is repaired.
“It’s an isolated break,” Perez said. The only customer affected is Valencia High School, which was having a water supply issue on the south side of the campus.
“There’s water on the north side of campus with functioning restrooms,” Pinsker said. “Any minute now, water will be restored to the south side.”
“I was just walking around and I saw water coming down the road. I called the Valencia High School office and they called the city,” said Holly Houston, campus guard for Valencia High School. “We closed the gate leading to Dickason Drive so that students would not drive out into the water.”
Southbound Dickason Drive from Decoro to Smyth Drive will be closed for hours due to the water main break. Plan ahead for traffic congestion and high school pickups, according to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Facebook page.
There is no evacuation necessary and Valencia High School officials are sending a message to parents immediately.
“Pickups will only be possible along Smyth and along to Decoro Drive. Extra school deputies will be on scene to assist with traffic control at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. dismissals Thursday,” said the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials.
- Jessica Boyer
