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Two water mains burst, creating large sinkholes that impeded Sandy traffic Thursday afternoon.
The first and bigger break occurred at the intersection of 11400 South and 1000 East about 12:45 p.m., said Sandy spokeswoman Nicole Martin. A 10-inch pipe burst, producing a 20-foot-by-40-foot hole that was 6 feet deep and filled with water.
The break temporarily closed the intersection. The road reopened about 6 p.m. with limited access.
Crews discovered a second break about a block away at the intersection of 11400 South and 900 East (Sunburn Lane) shortly after the first, Martin said. The 16-inch line break created a 15-foot-by-15-foot hole that was 5 feet deep, causing a partial closure of the area.
Though the pipes are expected be repaired by midnight Thursday, Martin said, it will take about 10 days to fix the damaged and sunken roads where the asphalt split.
The breaks temporarily affected water pressure in nearby homes. Some residents reported discolored water, but the city's public utilities department said the water is not contaminated and is safe to drink. The discoloring, according to a news release from the city, is "caused by the stirring up of the sediments in the pipes during the flushing of the system."
Anyone who wants to have water tested, though, can call 801-352-4400 after 7 a.m. Friday.
The causes of the breaks were not apparent Thursday, Martin said, though it's possible the incidents were connected.
A third sinkhole formed in South Jordan early Thursday morning, also caused by a broken pipe.
Twitter: @CourtneyLTanner