A water tower has broken in Augusta,Ga near the Augusta National Golf Course.

[Are_grits_groceries]

@WRDW:
We're hearing reports of damage to the water tower on Washington Road in Augusta. Please avoid the area. Photo's from a viewer.

@SandieCrowley: By Augusta National!


"The Masters" officials and members must be having spasms.

[RGinNJ]

1. Could this be earthquake damage?

[greyl]

2. Yep, looks like it's about 30 miles away from the earthquake center. nt

[TorchTheWitch]

3. that would be my guess

Holy cow, I hope it doesn't burst.

[DURHAM D]

4. Wow - I have never seen anything like that before. nt

[TexasTowelie]

5. I've seen water towers spring a leak before,

but that is a huge reservoir. Hopefully the temperatures in the area are above freezing so it doesn't create ice patches on the nearby roads.

[greyl]

6. Was leaking before the quake.

According to disaster coordinator Mie Lucas, workers are on the tower and the water is coming out of the overflow valve. The tower itself is not in danger and is structurally sound. The tower had been leaking in the days prior to the earthquake, with the Augusta Chronicle shooting video of the leak on Thursday. It's unknown if the earthquake caused any additional damage.
http://www.sbnation.com/golf/2014/2/14/5413450/augusta-national-water-tower-leak-earthquake

I'd have to say the leak shown in the video is way less significant than the one in the OP pic:

&feature=youtu.be

[Myrina]

12. "Was already leaking .. is structurally sound"

Uhhh ... that it was already leaking tends to indicate that it wasn't entirely structurally sound. Hence the term "leak".

[2naSalit]

7. Dang! >4M!!! In Georgia! Ruh Roh!!

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usc000mr27#summary

[Newsjock]

8. Now claimed to be an overflow valve

http://www.nbc26.tv/story/24731268/washington-road-water-towel-spilling-tons-of-water

UPDATE: According to the Richmond County Emergency Management Agency, the water coming from the tower is not due to damage, but an overflow valve.

[okaawhatever]

9. Damn, don't those people know anything about insurance claims. Of course it was the covered

event and not a maintenance issue. Just kidding, I wouldn't want anyone to think I was suggesting they defraud the insurance company.

[anasv]

10. overflow valve?

why is there an overflow valve? how do these things work?

[joshcryer]

11. It's easier to keep the whole system pressurized (relatively) evenly.

Much easier than having various pressures throughout the system.

So if there is an excess in the system those areas which get it will overflow, rather than having the pressure drop.

[onethatcares]

13. what? there was an earthquake in Georgia?

and what happened to all the snow?

Jeez, I'm on my second cup of coffee and am just finding this out.