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The sewer line under the intersection of Fourth Street and Graf Road has collapsed, Hollister Public Works Director William Via told BenitoLink, adding that residents need not worry.
“There is no visible sinking of the roadway,” he said. “It’s not a sinkhole. We’re on top of it and there’s no immediate risk to health from this sewer line break.”
The collapse is not exposed to the air and is entirely underground, Via said. He noted that the line is in the middle of Fourth Street and Graf Road intersection and not under homes or yards.
However, he said it’s possible that sewage has soaked into the ground surrounding the pipe.
He added that residents will not be evacuated and drinking water has not been affected.
Via explained that the sewage line runs from one manhole to another. The line has collapsed and created an open space, or void. The 21-foot pipe that transports sewage is most likely broken, he said.
“We don’t know exactly what happened to that pipe,” Via said.
He said the problem was identified by city staff on Feb. 23. The city reached out to Able Sewer, a San Jose-based contractor and received a repair estimate of $247,000, but the figure has since changed. He did not have the new estimate.
Repair work is expected to begin on the morning of March 7, Via said. The contractor will work for three days to excavate, replace one manhole and a section of the 21-foot pipe.
As for the odor residents say plagues the west side of Hollister, Via said it’s possible the collapsed line could be related to the strong smell, but not likely.
“The thing is we don’t know how long it’s been like this,” he said. “I’ve been out there many times and I’ve never smelled an odor in that intersection.”
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