Napa residents frustrated after massive water main break

NAPA, Calif. (KGO) -- Crews are still working to repair a water main break in Napa.

Tens of thousands of gallons of water flowed into storm drains in Napa after a huge water main broke early Saturday morning. Residents could only stand by and watch in frustration as repair crews worked on the break, which may be earthquake-related.

It's a massive job repairing a giant 36 inch water transmission pipe. The main broke, sending thousands of gallons of water down 1st Street. It's a major line that moves water from the city's treatment plant into neighborhoods.

"We're losing a lot of water and it's causing a lot of discomfort for the other neighbors that are out of water," said Napa resident Dormie Herman.

At one point, 200 customers were without water, including everyone in a nearby apartment complex.

The city insists the main broke overnight and crews starting working on it at 6 a.m.

But a photo taken at 8 a.m. by John Herman shows no crews in sight.

Some homeowners are frustrated by what seems like a lot of water being wasted.

"It's going in the storm drain," said Napa resident Mark Ingham. "The storm drain is going to the ocean. So instead of people having drinks and baths, that's where it's headed. It's a shame."

The city, in the meantime, suspects the earthquake may be responsible for this latest break.

"Considering the shakeup that we had on our water system in our Aug. 24 earthquake, we continue to find multiple leaks on the system since that," said Phil Brun with the Napa Department of Public Works.

The city of Napa set up an emergency water filling station for residents to use, just in case service is interrupted while repairs continue.