This weekend’s storm wreaked havoc across Morongo Basin flooding roads, homes and businesses. And for some customers of Joshua Basin Water District that had low or no water pressure Saturday, the storm was also to blame. As rain intensified Friday around midnight, washes overflowed and roads flooded. A torrent of water flowed down Outpost Road in Joshua Tree undermining, then washing away, an 80-foot section of a 12-inch water main that normally carries water from two storage tanks to homes in the area of Alta Loma, Olympic, and Outpost Roads. The late-night event left some with low pressure, others without water service at all. The change in flow triggered an alarm at the district office which sent crews scrambling. The first on the scene promptly closed the tank valves sometime between 2 and 3 a.m. Saturday. A crew of 11 district employees worked from before dawn into the afternoon, fully replacing the 80 feet of water main and restoring service by 6 p.m. Saturday.
