- A water main break in Sandy displaced the Smith family from their home.
- The rupture flooded their property, causing extensive damage and uncertainty about repairs.
- The family launched a GoFundMe for emergency expenses as they await further assistance.
SANDY — A Sandy family is grappling with the aftermath of a catastrophic water main break that sent thousands of gallons of water rushing into their yard and home, leaving their property uninhabitable and their future uncertain.
It happened Sunday near 9100 South and 2300 East, where a transition pipe — originally installed in 1959 — ruptured, unleashing a torrent of water that tore through the neighborhood.
Just one house down from the break sits the home of Rachelle and John Smith, longtime residents since 2007. Their yard was devastated, and the water surged into their basement with such force that it shattered windows and flooded the interior.
While the front yard of the Smiths' home shows little sign of damage, the backyard tells a different story: deep tire tracks, displaced sand, and a massive hole dug around the broken pipe mark the scene.
"It doesn't feel safe. It stinks," said Rachelle Smith, standing outside her damaged home. "There's supposed to be a structural engineer coming out, but I don't know when. We can't use the water, and this tree is about to fall out."
The Smiths say it took an hour and a half for crews to shut off the water, and now, four days later, the Smiths are still waiting for answers — who's responsible for the damage, how long repairs will take and when they'll be able to return home.
In the meantime, they're left paying a mortgage on a house they can't live in.
As cleanup efforts begin, the family has launched a *GoFundMe campaign to help cover emergency expenses and repairs.
For now, the future remains uncertain—but the Smiths are determined to rebuild, one step at a time.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
