Millionaire Washington state homeowners where mansions average $2M are forced to evacuate their luxury properties amid threat of landslide from leaking water pipe

Dozens of millionaire homeowners in Washington state were forced to evacuate their luxury properties on Mercer Island amid landslide and flooding risks due to a leaking underground water pipe.

On Wednesday night, residents of around 20 homes on Mercer Island, where mansions average $2 million, were told to leave their houses immediately without hearing any word on when the leak would be repaired.

A leaking underground water pipe created unstable soil conditions, putting homes at risk if the conditions were to worsen, the city explained in social media posts.

The leak occurred in the 24-inch high-pressure water pipe owned and maintained by Seattle Public Utilities. The unstable soil conditions were discovered uphill from the homes near 95th Court SE. 

'We were knocking on their doors around 9 o'clock last night asking them to leave — not the greatest time to be knocking on their doors, they were absolutely graceful, appreciative,' City Manager Jessi Bon said. 

Dozens of millionaire homeowners in Washington state were forced to evacuate their luxury properties on Mercer Island amid landslide and flooding risks due to a leaking underground water pipe on Wednesday 

Residents of around 20 homes on Mercer Island, where mansions average $2 million, were told to leave their houses immediately without hearing any word on when the leak would be repaired.

The leak occurred in the 24-inch high-pressure water pipe owned and maintained by Seattle Public Utilities. The unstable soil conditions were discovered uphill from the homes near 95th Court SE

A geotechnical engineer reviewed the soil conditions on Wednesday afternoon and immediately informed officials of the landslide risk, according to the city.

Residents downstream of the leak, where homes are estimated to be worth more than $3 million, had to leave after 9 pm that day and gather at a community center.

Orange warning signs were taped on multiple property doors, reading, 'This structure has been inspected, found to be seriously damaged, and is unsafe to occupy.'

'It's minute by minute,' resident Andrew Hess told KIRO7. '[I was] A little panicked and not sure what was going on. But they assured us that they are taking every precaution they can. '

Meanwhile, Seattle Public Utilities workers were turning off the water supply and shutting down the pipe completely, a process that took more than six hours.

'That was one of the critical things that we had to get done overnight,' Bon said at a press conference Thursday. 

Residents downstream of the leak, where homes are estimated to be worth more than $3 million, had to leave after 9 pm that day and gather at a community center

Orange warning signs were taped on multiple property doors, reading, 'This structure has been inspected, found to be seriously damaged, and is unsafe to occupy'

Seattle Public Utilities workers were turning off the water supply and shutting down the pipe completely, a process that took more than six hours

The city manager added that the city has switched to a backup water main, without affecting water pressure or quality for Mercer Island residents. 

By Thursday afternoon, landslide and flooding risks had been alleviated as workers drained the pipe. 

'There was a concern, and the reason that we evacuated homes is that if the pipe were to break, that it could cause dangerous flooding or a landslide,' Bon said. 

'I want to reiterate, that did not happen,' she emphasized. 

She said the city and the utility company are funding accommodation in Bellevue hotels where most evacuated residents stayed overnight. 

Homeowners were allowed to return their properties briefly to retrieve some belongings on Thursday morning, and they finally got back homes after 6:30 pm that day. 

The water pipe where the leak occurred was installed in 1956, according to press conference speaker Wylie Harper, who is SPU’s Water Transmission and Distribution director. 

Harper added that the segment has been checked routinely and will be replaced in a year or two. 

'We were knocking on their doors around 9 o'clock last night asking them to leave — not the greatest time to be knocking on their doors, they were absolutely graceful, appreciative,' City Manager Jessi Bon said

The water pipe where the leak occurred was installed in 1956, according to press conference speaker Wylie Harper, who is SPU’s Water Transmission and Distribution director

Jackie Tan, a homeowner who was evacuated on Wednesday, told King5, 'There has been an issue with landslides on this particular street.' 

A huge landslide destroyed approximately 30 homes in 2022 after a water pipe leak caused unstable soil conditions in Bellevue. 

John and Barbara Surdi, whose house was demolished, received a total of $5 million in a settlement with the city and Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart. 

The city of Bellevue said at the time: "While the city still contends the slide occurred due to factors out of its control, this resolution reflects a negotiated outcome among the Surdi family, the city, and the Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart.'