A West Hollywood street remained closed Monday after a weekend water main break described as "The Poseidon Adventure" flooded roads and submerged cars.
An 80-year-old, 12-inch pipe broke just after 4 a.m. Sunday in the 1100 block of North Formosa Avenue, fire officials said.
Water service was restored about 6:45 p.m. Sunday, and a "slurry" compound was used to fill in the excavation, the LADWP reported.
LADWP officials said they use the sand slurry filling in place of natural soil because it has a cement content that hardens around the pipe, creating a more solid foundation.
The sheriff's department said in a statement Monday the road was being repaired and would reopen by Wednesday evening.
Water gushed down Santa Monica Boulevard and into underground parking garages, where at least six vehicles — including a Porsche and motorcycle — were submerged, officials said.
"I woke up at about 5 in the morning and it was like 'The Poseidon Adventure' outside," one resident said.
The street is familiar with water main breaks — water gushed out of a broken main near the same intersection in 2013, and residents of the building flooded Sunday said they were hit by flooding the previous time.
"I thought it was a joke," said Larry Falk, whose car was flooded. "I was like, 'This is Groundhog's Day, this is not even possible.'"
It was the third time in five years Falk's BMW has been soaked by mud and debris from a water main break on Formosa Avenue.
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"The city replaces a 10-foot section, and roughly 2 feet or 3 feet up or down from the patch, it blows again," Falk said.
Some residents said the flooding is taking a toll as they personally try to conserve water.
"You're watching how much water you use when you brush your teeth, and then you come out in the street and see everything that's going on," resident Joe Sutton said.
