Sinkhole in Lauderdale caused by leaky pipe, not heavy rain: expert
A University of Alberta engineer says the nine-metre-deep hole resulted from a defective sewer pipe eroding soil. Repairs begin this week.
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The growing sinkhole in Edmonton's Lauderdale neighbourhood near 130 Avenue and 107 Street is the result of a leaky pipe, not the heavy rainfall that has struck the region, according to a University of Alberta engineering expert.
The hole, barricaded by Epcor workers Saturday, is estimated to be more than nine metres deep. "While the portion of affected roadway has grown in size, we've continued to monitor the location as we've advanced a repair strategy," said Epcor spokesperson Laura Ehrkamp. Repairs will begin this week on a large pipe that transports flow to the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant. The first step is to reroute flows so service remains reliable for customers and allows workers to be safe as they work below ground.
Alireza Bayat, senior engineering research chair at the University of Alberta, said Edmonton doesn't have the "dissolving soil" that creates massive sinkholes in Florida. "We don't have that kind of soil. It's always about the pipe, and there is a pipe, a defective pipe. That's where the problem starts." Heavy rain Edmonton received in late spring and early summer would play a role, but it's not the cause. "It always starts with a defective sewer pipe," Bayat said. Water leaks from the pipe and erodes surrounding soil. "So it's not just it happened that day due to a storm. It is a defective pipe. It is eroding soil, and then the storm is just the last straw."
Sinkholes aren't everyday occurrences in Edmonton, but they're also not unheard of. In 2018, a five-storey-deep sinkhole was discovered under Allendale Road. In October 2020, a 23-metre-deep sinkhole was discovered near 61 Avenue and 109 Street. The timeline for repairs at Lauderdale is not yet known, but Epcor said it will continue updating the community.
The facts
How deep is the sinkhole in Lauderdale?
The sinkhole in Edmonton's Lauderdale neighbourhood near 130 Avenue and 107 Street is estimated to be more than nine metres deep.
What caused the Lauderdale sinkhole?
A defective sewer pipe transporting flow to the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant leaked and eroded surrounding soil, according to Alireza Bayat, senior engineering research chair at the University of Alberta. Heavy rain played a secondary role but was not the cause.
When do repairs begin?
Repairs on the defective pipe in Lauderdale will begin the week of July 17, 2026. The first step is to reroute flows to maintain service and worker safety.
