Water Main Break Floods Streets, Cold Weather Ruining Landscapes

A water main break on Milpas Street this morning may have been linked to the overnight sub freezing temperatures. The Arctic blast is also causing residents to do all they can to protect sensitive plants.Crews have worked all day on the corner of Milpas and Cota Streets where the newly paved street erupted with water and mud as if an earthquake occurred. Many businesses were without water including Prestige Hand Car Wash. “We had a busy weekend, and were hoping for a busy day today but no, it’s not happening,” said Manager Manny Rodriguez.City crews tried to provide new water service with working lines to other businesses nearby and in one case, for the Los Agaves restaurant, a special hose was connected to the water meter to provide just what was needed to help the business open for lunch.Santa Barbara city Water Department workers used heavy equipment and shovels to get to the underground pipe. “It’s a 12-inch line,” said Supervisor Pepe Marquez. He said the broken pipe may have linked to the freezing temperatures. “It’s possible, it’s been pretty cold,” said Marquez. Across town, the sensitive plants in front of homeowner Danny Paulin’s house were wrapped in plastic. But Mother Nature found a way in and some of the leaves were damaged. Landscaper Raul Ortiz said the normally mild local weather was diving below freezing for too many nights in a row and the impacts were starting to be felt.Some of the coldest areas were in the 20s just before dawn.KEY News Senior Reporter John Palminteri has our story