Several Claims Filed in City Tank Rupture

Several minor claims have been filed against the city by residents who suffered property damage from last week’s rupture of a 5-million-gallon water tank on Hefley Street, city officials said Monday.

City Atty. Richard Jones said a few residents have filed claims for damage to cars and other property; he characterized those claims as minor and not involving significant damage to homes.

Officials continue working with residents of the 49-unit Hefley Square condominium complex, which suffered the heaviest flood damage. On Monday, the City Council authorized the city’s claims adjuster to begin evaluating damage and possibly settle with residents whose property was destroyed and who might otherwise file claims later. Today, a team of city officials is expected to begin inspecting each condo unit with its owners.

The Hefley Street water tank burst Sept. 21, injuring six people and causing at least $29 million in damage to public and private property.

As the council met Monday to deal with the aftermath of the rupture, 76 displaced people remained in local hotels. About 11 condo units are considered uninhabitable. Families have begun moving back into others.

The cause of the rupture has not been determined. City Engineer Marwan Youssef said last week the break occurred where the floor met a precast concrete wall. An inspection in December 1997 found signs of cracks, rotted caulking and damaged beams inside the tank; Youssef said that was a different section.

City officials were evaluating proposals from three engineering firms Monday and are hoping to hire one by this morning to determine how the rupture occurred and whether the tank should be repaired or rebuilt. The study is expected to take 30 days.

City officials also reassured the council that the city has an adequate water supply in case of a major fire, although the city’s second reservoir tank was emptied last week as a precaution. For years, Westminster has had agreements with the neighboring cities of Garden Grove, Huntington Beach and Seal Beach to connect to their water systems in case of emergency.

“We have plenty of [water] pressure,” said public works director Brad Fowler. “We’re working on volume [in case] we have a protracted fire.”

The City Council extended the local emergency it declared last week. Officials are trying to get Gov. Wilson to declare a local emergency, which could qualify the city for partial state reimbursement for cleanup and damage repair.