Crews working to fix ruptured sewage pipe

A sewage pipe burst on South Beachwood Drive between Parkside Avenue and West Alameda Avenue midday Tuesday, sending sewage down curbsides as crews worked to keep the mess out of storm drains.

Public works employees from Burbank and Los Angeles County are working to divert the spill away from the storm drains, said city spokesman Keith Sterling. The pipe burst about 11:20 a.m.

The sewage is collecting at the intersection of South Beachwood Drive and West Riverside Drive, but has filled the curbside area along South Griffith Park Drive. Burbank police and fire officials have diverted traffic from the affected intersections.

Patsy and Emily Anasti said they were stopped in their tracks when they stepped out on their driveway on the 700 block of South Griffith Park Drive at 12:30 p.m.

“This is a shocker,” said Patsy Anasti as she and her daughter walked down the block to find a safe place to cross. “As if there weren’t enough problems.”

The Anastis, who have lived in Burbank for 16 years, were headed down the street to deliver candy and so Emily could dance for her grandmother.

They both eventually jumped over the sewage stream where it thinned closer to West Riverside Drive.

The remaining material in the pipes is currently being pumped to the Los Angeles system, city officials said.

The city is working on excavating the source of the burst pipe and to repair and disinfect the area.

“This has never happened before,” said Ed Davis, a resident on South Beachwood Drive for 14 years who came out to look at the source of the spill. “I am afraid to flush the toilet, though.”

Water continued to flow out of the broken pipe into the street Tuesday morning. Part of the surrounding road looked as though it was beginning to buckle and water was bubbling through the cracks.

“I can’t smell [the sewage] in my house — yet,” Davis said.

Officials were still investigating the cause of the pipe rupture.