Breckenridge Texan

A City of Breckenridge employee surveys the water line break at the intersection of South Jackson Street and East Hullum. According to Public Works Director Taylor Hardy the line was hit by crews installing fiber-optic cables. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

By Tony Pilkington and Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

City of Breckenridge crews have been on the scene of a damaged water line on South Jackson Street this morning, Wednesday, May 13.

Public Works Director Taylor Hardy confirmed from the site of the leak that the water line was hit by a fiber-optic company that was drilling in the area to install cable.

More than an hour after the water line was hit, water was still rushing down the gutters toward Walker Street, flooding yards and intersections along the way. City crews were setting up pumps and other equipment to deal with the situation, and a couple of streets over, a city employee was attempting to turn off a valve.

Earlier this month, a resident on South Jackson Street posted on Facebook, warning of the possibility of such an incident. His first post said that the fiber-optic company was planning to dig installation trenches on South Jackson and that while the gas lines were marked, the water lines were not identified in any way. He later updated the post to say that he had talked to the city manager and the water lines had been marked. He also suggested that the fiber-optic line company install the cable on the other side of the street, away from the gas and water lines.

The Breckenridge Texan has reached out to City Manager Cynthia Northrop for more information on the situation and will update this story as soon as possible.

City of Breckenridge Public Works Director Taylor Hardy, right, talks to an employee on the site of a water line break Wednesday morning, May 13. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The damage to a water line on South Jackson Street was caused by a fiber-optic company that was drilling a trench to install cable, according to City of Breckenridge Public Works Director Taylor Hardy. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

A city employee delivers a pump to the site of a damaged water line on Wednesday morning, May 13. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

A local business owner clears away dirt and grass on South Jackson Street, near East Walker, to allow water from the busted water line to flow to a drain so that the water didn’t flood his nearby business. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: Water from a busted line ran down South Jackson Street, flooding yards and intersection, after a fiber-optic company hit the waterline while digging a trench to install cable, according to City of Breckenridge Public Works Director Taylor Hardy, on Wednesday morning, May 13. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)