FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Officials say a contractor used part of a tree to plug a hole in a water main that disrupted service for tens of thousands of South Florida residents last week.
The Sun Sentinel reports that Fort Lauderdale city spokesman Chaz Adams explained Tuesday that using wood for emergency repairs is common. Once the makeshift wooden plug was in place, straps were wrapped around the pipe and over the plug to secure it. The pipe and plug were then encased in concrete.
Fort Lauderdale officials issued a boil water order last Thursday for more than 220,000 customers. The final warnings were lifted Tuesday morning.
The construction-related water pipe break started out as a small leak last Wednesday. Officials say the pipe collapsed while crews were making overnight repairs near Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
