Caught on Camera: Water Main Break Takes Down Gas Station Canopy

keye ^ | Jan. 13, 2015 | unknown

[bgill]

Alam says within minutes, he watched as the spout of water grew and the canopy over his gas pumps was no match for it. "It was like a tsunami like a tornado."

The pressure from the water collapsed the metal structure.

The force even blew a hole in the rear window of Alam's car - which was parked just a few feet away.

No one was hurt, but Alam's insurance company says it's going to take $65,000 to fix the canopy. "My insurance said the city should take care of that."

But, at this point, a city attorney says Tulsa isn't responsible.

[bgill]

It's never the government's fault. Bet the city (who isn't claiming responsibility) will be all over the gas station to answer to the EPA if there's any damage to the underground gas tanks.

Wild video.

[MeshugeMikey]

I watched 300K gallons of water spewing several yards into the air when a truck knocked over a fire hydrant here a few months back....

the driver got billed for that one

[Rio]

He should have known not to build a gas station right over a water main! (not)

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

More proof that water and gasoline don’t mix.

[Rodamala]

When Keystone XL blows up, who will be sued? Discuss.

[TYVets]

Moving petroleum products by pipe lines is safer than moving them by rail cars.

[PA Engineer]

When Keystone XL blows up, who will be sued? Discuss.

Water mains are an entire different class of underground transmission and lack most of the safety requirements of volatile liquids and gas. You are showing your ignorance.

[Rodamala]

You missed the point, refused to answer a simple valid question, and call me ignorant? Lame.

[Rodamala]

So we can sue the railroad? Right.

[PA Engineer]

You missed the point, refused to answer a simple valid question, and call me ignorant? Lame.

Lame? You are quite the lazy idiot. One is ductile iron bell and spigot piping and the other welded steel, coated with corrosion systems. If you don't know the difference, then spend some time investigating. You can start with pipeline safety at the DOT. It is online.

Sometimes people believe they have a valid question, when in fact those around them are face palming. If you don't know the difference, then you are starting out at a level of complete and total technical ignorance.

Spend some time learning.

[thackney]

When Keystone XL blows up, who will be sued? Discuss.

Lawyers will sue everyone with money, regardless of fault.

[Rodamala]

I sat on a top of a hill 50 miles away from Edison NJ and watched Hell on Earth. I have also crawled under derailed, flipped off the tracks, railroad tank cars fully loaded with Permian Crude in Hobbs, NM. That’s about the distances I can tolerate for both scenarios.

...and I certainly don’t need a lesson on welded steel versus bell and spigot Ductile Iron Pipe. I’ve laid more pipe than you know. Ask your wife.

[Rodamala]

Best answer... then again the other commenters really didn’t even try to.attempt an answer... I read this morning the spread was only like 85 cents... that’s not too good... please keep us updated on Permian Rig Counts. That last link you had last week was amazing... I think it was data from Baker Hughes. I sleuthed and found the spreadsheets there with all the historic data for well drilling in every state since the 1990s or something. I shoulda bookmarked it.

[PA Engineer]

...and I certainly don’t need a lesson on welded steel versus bell and spigot Ductile Iron Pipe. I’ve laid more pipe than you know. Ask your wife.

Like I said, you are an idiot. Somehow all your grief is suspect. The only thing you have laid is on your back. Get over it.

[MaxMax]

That must be an old video, Gas is $1.69

[thackney]

I often just search “Baker Hughes Rig Counts”

http://www.bakerhughes.com/rig-count

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=79687&p=irol-reportsother

Pipeline operator would have responsibility, at least initially, for a spill.

Often if a backhoe or whatever causes damage and spill, the pipeline operator pays, then sues the one that causes the accident to recover cost. The pipeline operator is required by law to respond to the spill and clean up. They cannot just blame someone else saying “not our fault”.

[Rodamala]

Aha... you are homing in on the point I was trying to insinuate (which is apparently a big problem for a couple posters causingbtheir heads to asplode)... Why is the municipality not responsible for the damage THEIR WATERLINE caused to private property?

[thackney]

They are. They just have a numbskull trying to duck responsibility. They will pay. They will pay extra for attempting to ignore, unless something was caused by another party.

[PA Engineer]

They are. They just have a numbskull trying to duck responsibility. They will pay. They will pay extra for attempting to ignore, unless something was caused by another party.

They won't pay. They will fall back on the Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association to deny wrong doing. This is a trade organization. I have had run ins with them as an expert witness. They will draw it out until it is too costly and the insurance company will settle.

I agree they are ducking responsibility and it is a very complicated arrangement that has been going on for decades. You have to remember their claim (DIPRA) is their pipes do not corrode and if they do they have "special magic" to stop it. In many respects their claim is somewhat true with pipes lasting for decades without problems, however I have investigated lines that failed in less than a decade. It is only water if there is a problem.

The failure was most likely the result of graphitization at the joint. This is ultimately a corrosion failure with the loss of iron. Graphitization can make the pipe very porous and will result in water absorption. If they have had a deep freeze or even mechanical stress with say a heavy truck driving past, a crack will form.

Even when water companies get wise to what is going on, it is usually too cost prohibitive too remediate or seek legal resolution and the client or taxpayer will be left with the bill.

I'm sure in this case the insurance company will pay.

[trebb]

You missed the point, refused to answer a simple valid question, and call me ignorant? Lame.

Have to go with PA Engineer on this one - there is such a thing as a stupid question. Getting het up over being called on it indicates that the question wasn't a fluke event.